Ex-PAOCC spokesman says illegal POGO operations persist despite ban

MANILA — Illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities continue in parts of the country despite the government’s ban on the industry, with operators allegedly shifting tactics to evade authorities, according to former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio. 

Speaking at a forum in Quezon City, Casio said the October 2025 prohibition did not completely dismantle offshore gaming networks.

“They were banned October 23, 2025. Pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang operasyon ng POGO. Bagama’t nagkaroon ng ban, katulad lang yan ng bawat krimen, bawal pero hindi sila umalis,” he said. 

Casio estimated that thousands of individuals linked to POGO operations could still be in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, adding that many have moved away from large compounds and are now operating from smaller locations such as condominium units.

“Hindi na po sila mga hub. Karamihan sa kanila condo na,” he said. 

The former anti-crime official also questioned the government’s visa-free and visa-on-arrival arrangements for Chinese nationals, saying authorities should review whether such policies have been exploited by individuals involved in illegal offshore gaming activities.

“Bakit nagbigay ng visa-free entry o visa-on-arrival entry ang ating gobyerno para sa mga Chinese? Dahil doon, dumami po ulit yung mga Chinese dito sa Pilipinas,” he said. 

Casio warned that the issue extends beyond illegal gambling, citing alleged links to human trafficking, online scams, and national security concerns.

“Maliwanag na trafficking po iyon. Forced criminality,” he said, referring to recent operations in which foreign nationals were allegedly recruited for legitimate jobs but ended up working in scam operations. 

He also raised concerns over allegedly spurious birth certificates issued to foreign nationals, recalling that around 1,500 questionable records had already been confirmed before he left PAOCC, while thousands more remained under review.

“Ang problema po ng POGO hindi problema lamang ng transnational organized crime. May national security implication,” he said.

Casio likewise argued that corruption remains a key factor behind the continued presence of illegal POGO operations.

“Hindi mo naman mababagsak ang POGO sa Pilipinas because of public corruption,” he said, adding that authorities should continue examining the possible role of local officials in areas where suspected offshore gaming hubs have been discovered. 

With future elections approaching, Casio also expressed concern that offshore gaming groups could try to use their resources to gain political influence.

“Ang pera nila, [pwedeng] gagamitin nila sa eleksyon. Yun ang nakakatakot,” he said. 

He added that some operators have allegedly rebranded their businesses as business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, technology companies, or lending agencies to avoid scrutiny.

Casio urged authorities and local government units to sustain the crackdown, saying the continued discovery of suspected POGO-linked operations shows the problem has yet to be fully eradicated.

“Simple lang ang mensahe natin. Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas,” he said. “Anything that has something to do with POGO, human trafficking, online scams, dapat tuloy-tuloy ang laban ng gobyerno laban dito.”