On July 23, local time, Gilbert Cruz, deputy secretary of the Philippine Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), said that the five-month period will be used to determine the main participation of Philippine Offshore BC Operators (POGO) Provide sufficient time to the applicant and his or her foreign employees.
Cruz noted in a report that this period of time would be sufficient not only to identify industry bosses but also to build a database of all foreign workers and ensure that those workers are subsequently deported to their countries of origin. He emphasized that this database is crucial to ensuring the legality of workers in the online BC industry.
Starting from July 22, 2024, President Marcos of the Philippines announced a complete ban on the online gambling industry. This move resulted from raids on illegal online gambling companies and the discovery of equipment used for torture, telecommunications fraud and other crimes. The President directed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to completely cease all online gambling operations by the end of the year.
The Presidential Commission against Organized Crime, in coordination with other government agencies, has led successive raids on POGOs. Recent raids have rescued nearly a thousand employees in the towns of Bamban and Porac, including hundreds of foreign citizens.
Cruz said the Presidential Commission against Organized Crime will work closely with the Department of Justice Inter-Agency Council on Human Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT), the Bureau of Immigration, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to enforce the ban and continue to target the remaining Gambling scam zone.
The Ministry of Justice supported the ban and said it reflected the government's strong determination to ensure fair justice. Justice Minister Jesus Remulla said the president's action showed his strong determination to uphold the rule of law and protect the vulnerable in society.
