BY: VANESSA BUGTONG
Even though forty five-year-old Marylyn has registered her number, she still receives scam messages.
She receives 2 to 4 text scams weekly.
“Yes, there are still those, but we stay cautious,” she said.
However, these have lessened since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the cessation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations in the country.
Many agree that POGO operations should stop entirely.
“My sibling uses GCash and has been scammed multiple times,” she added.
PBBM stated, “Effective today, all POGOs are banned. I heavily instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease POGO operations by the end of the year.”
Following the President’s directive, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the Philippine National Police, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission are now focused on implementing it.
According to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, they will also intensify monitoring of guerrilla-style POGO operations.
“It’s two parts, all licenses are canceled, so we’ll be POGO-free. However, guerrilla operations will emerge, and we will go after them,” said Remulla.
The DILG will issue an executive order requiring all local executives to report any suspicious activities in their areas, including potential POGO operations.
Meanwhile, PAGCOR announced the revocation of all remaining POGO licenses effective December 15.
Earlier this morning, December 17, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla personally inspected the Island Cove facility in Cavite.
He personally locked the doors of the largest POGO hub in the country to ensure its closure.
