House panel seeks closure of 402 illegal POGOs

A joint committee in the House of Representatives is pushing for the immediate shutdown of 402 illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) to curb associated criminal activities.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez mandated a joint panel probe into alleged links between syndicated crime and POGOs.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Jr. is set to meet with local chief executives in Central Luzon to intensify efforts against illegal POGOs.

The meeting, organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), brought together heads of national government agencies and LGUs to strategize on combating illicit activities.

Abalos emphasized the importance of a proactive approach, stating, 'Hindi na natin aantayin ang problema na mangyari, ang gagawin ay proactive here, with all the visitorial powers na sinabi na given to the mayors, na given to the national local agency pagsasamahin ito para lang i-map out ang mga illegal activities on the ground.'

The Department of Justice provided an overview of prosecutions related to illegal POGOs, and the Philippine National Police shared insights on the current landscape of scam farms.

Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairman of the public order and safety panel, emphasized the necessity of inter-agency cooperation with LGUs and their Business Permits and Licensing Offices (BPLOs) to ensure the verification and closure of these illegal operations.

Abalos also noted that a thorough inspection could uncover other illegal activities such as drug laboratories within these premises.