Philippine Authorities Crack Down on Illegal Online Gaming Operations
Filipino law enforcement officials liberated forty foreign laborers from an illicit online gaming operation.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) cautioned that the fate of the entire Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) industry could be in a precarious position following the rescue of forty migrant workers who were abducted and compelled to work for an illicit POGO operation.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) freed the forty international citizens from an illegal POGO enterprise in Angeles City. Pagcor stated that the workers were seized and coerced into working for the organization.
POGOs are operators situated in the Philippines that target clients from other nations, frequently other Asian nations, such as China. The industry has encountered a series of controversies in recent times, involving alleged transgressions of Philippine law and the laws of other nations.
The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Benjamin Abalos, declared that the outcome of the operation was a consequence of the successful collaboration between various government entities, including the PNP, DILG, Department of Justice, Pagcor, and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), who have been cooperating to combat POGO-related human trafficking activities throughout the island nation.
After a surprise attack, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has officially issued a directive for all illicit online gaming ventures to stop immediately.
Discussing the operation, Aballes stated, “Our personnel are pursuing other individuals implicated in this case, and the inquiry is ongoing. The apprehended individuals are officials from the Human Resource Development Department, so we believe there may be higher-ranking individuals who have yet to be apprehended.”
Aballes also highlighted the difference between legitimate and unlawful online gaming.
“We are closing down these unlawful establishments. But it must be clear that we have no problem with legal online gaming. In fact, we have no problem with their policies or workers, but illicit operations have a negative effect on the entire industry,” Aballes clarified.
The Bureau of Immigration will be responsible for the rescued workers and will examine their identification documents and work authorizations.
PAGCOR started regulating the online gaming sector in 2016, and since then, the sector has produced substantial revenue for the government. However, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco stated that even legal online gaming companies could be impacted if issues such as human trafficking arise.
“If these kidnapping incidents and other unlawful activities continue, it is clear that we will not only revoke the licenses of online gaming operators, but the entire industry may be affected by the decisions of the national government. Therefore, let’s collaborate to resolve these issues as soon as possible,” Tengco said.
The Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to eradicate all unlawful operations associated with POGO across the nation.
The Philippine President has stated that this matter requires immediate attention as these illicit activities are tarnishing the reputation of the country and its administration. “The President has stated that this matter requires immediate attention as these illicit activities are tarnishing the reputation of the country and its administration,” Tenco continued.
In addition to the crackdown on POGO, the Philippines is now reevaluating its online gambling regulations. Senator Joel Villanueva recently introduced a bill in the Philippine Senate that would prohibit all forms of online gambling within the country. In February, a report submitted to the Senate revealed a “clear link” between POGO operations and human trafficking activities.
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