On August 25, 2024, Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian stated that Filipinos who knowingly work for scam centers, especially those associated with illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), should be severely punished by law.
Sherwin Gatchalian said: "It is sad that some of our compatriots are blinded by money and choose to work in these scam centers. They no longer have any reason to claim they are victims, as this is illegal in itself."
He believes that Filipinos caught participating in such activities should not be let off easily. He pointed out: "Those Filipinos who are caught have deliberately chosen to work in these scam centers. We should not be lenient with them. From the beginning, they knew these activities were illegal, yet still participated in them, so there are no excuses."
In last month's third State of the Nation Address, Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced a complete ban on online gambling (POGO) within the Philippines. He stated that the social costs brought by POGO far outweigh the revenue it generates, hence it is not worth continuing.
