DILG orders stricter business permit checks vs illegal POGOs, scam hubs

MANILA — Local government units must tighten inspections of business establishments to prevent banned offshore gaming operators and scam hubs from operating under the guise of legitimate businesses, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.

The directive comes amid a probe into a suspected illegal POGO-like hub in Cubao, Quezon City, where 76 foreign nationals were arrested. 

The facility was located near major police and military installations, raising concerns over possible threats to national security.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 2026-054, the DILG requires LGUs to conduct regular random inspections as part of the process of issuing and renewing business permits and licenses, particularly for commercial establishments and high-rise buildings when applicable.

The move aims to strengthen enforcement of the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, or Republic Act No. 12312, which bans Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) nationwide.

LGUs must also keep records of establishments previously occupied by POGOs, IGLs and scam hubs, including those whose permits had been revoked before the issuance of the new guidelines.

Beginning Jan. 15, 2027, LGUs must submit annual notarized certifications to their respective DILG regional offices confirming that no such operations exist in their jurisdictions. 

“LGUs that have recorded the presence of such operations, meanwhile, must immediately submit a special report to their respective DILG Regional Directors,” the DILG said. 

The DILG also ordered local officials to work with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to identify and shut down clandestine operations. 

The PNP, meanwhile, is strengthening its own security measures following the Cubao raid. 

PNP chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. warned against the possibility of foreign operatives infiltrating police systems or accessing sensitive information.

“We are taking all the proactive measures to ensure that all important communication our systems and that all matters related to national security are protected,” Nartatez said in a statement.  

The PNP is reviewing safeguards for its communications systems, facilities and operations to prevent unauthorized access and protect information critical to national security.

Investigators are also checking whether the Cubao operation was connected to a separate illegal hub in Zamboanga Sibugay, where 244 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, were arrested earlier this month. 

“We continue to validate all information to ensure that your PNP is not downplaying these possible threats,” Nartatez said.

He said the PNP would coordinate with other agencies to strengthen security measures and institutional safeguards against evolving threats.