Philippine authorities have warned that illegal operations linked to the former offshore gaming sector remain active, despite the nationwide POGO ban.
Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said recent enforcement activity had uncovered smaller establishments, including operations conducted from single rooms. His assessment suggests that criminal networks have reduced their visible footprint without abandoning their activities.
Smaller Scam Operations Prompt A Shift Towards Intelligence And Surveillance
Ty acknowledged that operations had become smaller but rejected suggestions that the problem had disappeared.
“But clearly it’s still there; we’re not denying that the problem still exists,” he said. Police have adjusted their approach towards intelligence gathering, cyber-surveillance, internet usage monitoring and community reporting.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities were tracking three small scam hubs in Metro Manila. These reportedly occupied rented houses accommodating 10 to 20 people, contrasting with the large compounds previously associated with offshore gaming.
Immigration Checks Accompany Investigations Into Alleged Protection Networks
Justice officials are examining whether foreign nationals apprehended at scam hubs entered through visa-free arrangements or remained beyond their authorised stay. Separately, the presidential office requested a review of visa-free entry arrangements for Chinese tourists following allegations of misuse.
Police are also pursuing dismissed officers allegedly protecting scam businesses. Remulla said former police and military personnel were being used as enforcers.
“Any active or dismissed PNP personnel caught enabling or shielding these rogue outfits will face swift criminal prosecution and total institutional purge,” police chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.
Trafficking Prosecutions Show Why Closing Gaming Operations Is Not Enough
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the POGO ban in July 2024. Continuing raids nevertheless indicate that enforcement must address the networks operating behind individual premises.
The 2025 US Trafficking in Persons Report recorded prosecutions against 43 alleged traffickers involving exploitation in scam operations presented as POGOs. Justice officials stressed cooperation with foreign governments and law enforcement agencies to improve enforcement.
Smaller premises make these networks less visible and place more importance on financial investigation and local intelligence. Enforcement should target organisers, funding and alleged protectors with individual locations. Prosecutions and victim protection provide stronger measures of progress than closure totals alone.
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