The Office of the President of the Philippines has ordered the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to jointly draft guidelines for the implementation of the ban on offshore gaming centers.
Following the administrative order by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prohibit Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin wrote to the AMLC, requesting their collaboration with CEZA.
"Please be advised that this office has directed CEZA to coordinate with AMLC to formulate implementation guidelines to prohibit offshore interactive gaming operations as well as all other offshore gaming businesses and services within the Cagayan Economic Zone and Freeport," Bersamin wrote in a letter released by the office of Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Hontiveros had previously questioned CEZA during the last POGO hearing in the Senate.
Despite CEZA's assertion that it does not have POGOs, Hontiveros still pointed out potential loopholes in Marcos' administrative order.
"I am pleased that the Office of the Executive Secretary listened to my call during the Senate hearing and clarified the loopholes in the administrative order," Hontiveros said.
Marcos verbally banned POGOs during his third State of the Nation Address, instructing all necessary government agencies to phase out POGO operations by the end of the year.
The President's administrative order was issued in November, leaving only one month until the legal cessation of POGO operations.
