According to Gilbert Cruz, the Executive Director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), an Executive Order (EO) implementing a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) is expected to be issued "within two weeks."
Cruz stated during a Senate Finance Committee discussion on legislating the POGO ban: "Regarding the Executive Order, it might be issued within two weeks. I have seen the draft, and I think [it] will be issued within two weeks."
Cruz mentioned that the draft already includes definitions of terms, but the implementation details are still being finalized.
He said: "I can say, sir, that there are still issues with the implementation... but the definitions of terms are clear... The main issues currently discussed are the concepts of operation and how to communicate them."
When Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked if the Executive Order also covers special category business process outsourcing (BPO) and other online games, Cruz informed the Senate panel that a Technical Working Group (TWG) would be formed.
"Now there is an entity, but it also brings confusion, which is the service provider. I think according to PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) regulations, it is called a special category of BPO, as far as I know, they are still doing due diligence, this type of BPO does not accept bets, only provides services to gambling companies outside the Philippines. Are these part of the POGO ban?" the senator asked.
In response, Cruz said: "We will call for the establishment of a TWG, which includes the participation of PAGCOR and other agencies, to ensure that everything mentioned in the Executive Order is implemented."
President Ferdinand Marcos announced a comprehensive ban on the online gambling industry in his third State of the Nation Address.
Marcos stated that POGO is involved in illegal activities such as fraud, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and murder.
