Año warns POGO operators to follow quarantine guidelines

May 7, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday warned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) businesses that special teams were created to check  if they are following quarantine guidelines.

Last Tuesday, a total of 63 Chinese nationals and 13 Filipinos were arrested in Makati City for alleged POGO operations.

In a TV interview, Año said the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Finance have imposed regulations for the POGOs to follow or else their business will be closed.

"There are certain requirements imposed by the BIR and the DOF for them to comply. If they do not comply, we will not allow them to operate," he said.

He said teams cof law enforcement units were created to check areas where POGOs operate to ensure they are following laws being implemented by the Interagency Task Force.

"We have formed special teams within the law enforcement to check on certain areas where they are operating to ensure their following quarantine rules," Año said.

"If they will violate, we will padlock and stop their operations," he warned.

Following reports of rise in the number of crime incidents in POGO industry, the secretary said the Philippine National Police addressed the problem by establishing special complaint desks for Chinese victims and more police visibility in POGO areas.

“The chief PNP, (Police General Archie Francisco) Gamboa directed the PNP to be visible in those areas and establish special desks for Chinese nationals so they can immediately complain,” he said.

“So far they have addressed that particular concern, in fact with the lockdown, our crime rate went do by 60 percent,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS