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Mayors are urged to conduct inspections of businesses following reports that POGOs are attempting to disguise themselves as resorts and restaurants in order to avoid detection. Philippine authorities urged local government units to inspect establishments even after permitting them to operate. This comes amid reports of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) attempting to masquerade themselves as resorts and restaurants to evade detection.  Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said this in response to a question by Senator Risa Hontiveros about the continuity of the POGO shutdown after the deadline set by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “I believe it transferred the one in Porac and hid there in Lapu-Lapu. So it is really up to a lot of the mayors that when they issue occupancy permits, they have to inspect the premises and make sure that what it is intended for is what’s happening,” Remulla said, as reported by the Inquirer.  Remulla was referring to incidents in Porac, Pampanga and Lapu-Lapu. In Lapu-Lapu, it was reported that a POGO hub masqueraded as a restaurant and a hotel.  Senators, including Hontiveros flagged an "alarming trend" of guerilla operations which would take over the presence of POGOs in the Philippines. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier mentioned this in a previous statement, reiterating that PNP should have enough intelligence funds to monitor these operations.  Earlier this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 74, mandating a complete ban on POGO operations by December 31, 2024. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been tasked to intensify their efforts against illegal activities such as human trafficking, online scams, and kidnappings linked to POGOs. Read related article: Senator Wants Increase in Intelligence Fund vs. POGOs

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called for an increase in the national police intelligence fund to combat illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called for an increase in the Philippine National Police’s intelligence fund to combat illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).  In his statement issued November 18, 2024, he highlighted a decrease in the PNP's intelligence budget, from P1.356 billion in 2023 to P806.025 million in 2025, despite the need for enhanced law enforcement against POGOs involved in illegal activities like kidnapping, human trafficking, and online scams.  "The PNP needs funds to gather intelligence, particularly in the fight against POGOs," Gatchalian said, citing entities who masquerade as other companies to cover up their operations.  Read:   Philippine Senate Committee Endorses Bill Outlawing POGOs Meanwhile, Gatchalian has urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to proactively cancel Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) for foreign workers linked to POGOs, as he urged a more proactive approach against these offshore gaming operators.  "POGO entities are morphing into something else so they could stay in the country and continue their scamming activities," Gatchalian noted as he interpellated on DOLE's proposed budget for 2025. Read: Senator Warns Ex-POGO Workers Starting Firms for Online Scams "We need a very proactive approach to cancel and eventually send these workers to their country of origin and we need the entire government machinery to work together to cut the legal basis for these individuals to stay in the Philippines," he stressed. DOLE reported the issuance of 15,819 AEPs in 2024 and has already canceled 36,000 permits since the ban announcement. To address potential job losses  among 27,590 Filipino POGO workers, Gatchalian encouraged DOLE to enhance employment facilitation programs, such as job fairs, to ensure displaced workers find meaningful employment. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 74  mandates a complete ban on POGO operations by December 31, 2024, with the PNP tasked to intensify their efforts against illegal activities such as human trafficking, online scams, and kidnappings linked to POGOs. Read related article: P460 Billion Lost to Scams in PH, POGO Operations Linked