Special Category Business Process Outsourcing (SCBPO) companies have once again been confirmed to be exempt from the restrictions of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) ban. According to legal expert Tonet Quiogue, this clarification was made after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) inspected special level BPO facilities on Friday, December 20th. The purpose of the inspection was to identify any suspected illegal POGOs operating under the guise of legitimate business outsourcing companies. Tonet stated that this clarification is "a significant progress, reinforcing this stance and providing the clarity long sought by the industry." The inspection team included Alejandro H. Tengco, Chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), accompanied by key members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of Administrative Order No. 74—Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla, Assistant Justice Minister Mico Clavano, and representatives from the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Office, Anti-Money Laundering Council, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Labor, and other agencies. They visited the two largest SCBPOs in the Philippines. During the visit, Tonet shared that the delegation witnessed firsthand how SCBPOs operate just like regular BPO companies, providing basic services to legitimate foreign gaming companies. Minister Remulla emphasized that SCBPO represents "the good side of the gaming industry, providing good job opportunities without involving scams." He assured that SCBPOs would not be subject to raids or disruptions and emphasized that law enforcement agencies are committed to assisting POGOs and other entities explicitly covered by Executive Order No. 74 in their exit. Despite the looming deadline of the ban imposed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the PAOCC found that there are still 100 suspected guerrilla-type online gaming companies operating across the Philippines. Gilbert Cruz, Executive Director of PAOCC, stated that enforcement efforts will be intensified in January, focusing on hotels, resorts, and residential areas suspected of harboring small illegal POGO centers.