Estrada calls for crackdown on illegal POGOs

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has urged PAGCOR and the Bureau of Immigration to address reports that around 250 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) are operating illegally in the country.

Estrada called for an immediate crackdown on illegal or unlicensed POGOs, emphasizing the need for cooperation between PAGCOR and the Bureau of Immigration to cancel visas and deport foreign employees involved in criminal activities.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro raised security concerns about POGOs near military bases, prompting Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to call for an immediate ban on all POGOs due to reports linking them to crimes such as human trafficking and torture.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año stated that while illegal activities by POGOs are a national concern, they do not currently require direct involvement of defense forces but can be addressed through existing regulations and law enforcement mechanisms.

Año emphasized the need for comprehensive data gathering and a balanced perspective to ensure informed policy decisions regarding POGOs' future operations in the Philippines.