Special Category Business Process Outsourcing (SCBPO) companies have once again been confirmed to be exempt from the ban imposed on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
According to legal expert Tonet Quiogue, this clarification was made after the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) inspected SCBPO facilities on Friday, December 20th.
The inspection aimed to identify any suspected illegal POGOs operating under the guise of legitimate business process outsourcing.
Tonet described this clarification as "a significant development that solidifies this stance and provides the clarity long sought by the industry." The inspection included key members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of Executive Order No. 74, such as the Chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Alejandro H. Tengco, Minister of Interior Jonvic Remulla, Assistant Minister of Justice Mico Clavano, and representatives from PAOCC, AMLA, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Labor, and other agencies. They visited the two largest SCBPOs in the Philippines.
Tonet shared that during the visit, the delegation witnessed firsthand how SCBPOs operate as regular BPO companies, providing basic services to overseas legal gaming companies.
Minister Remulla emphasized that SCBPO represents "the good side of gaming, providing good jobs and not engaging in scams." He assured that SCBPOs would not be subject to raids or disruptions and highlighted that law enforcement agencies are committed to assisting POGOs and other entities under the jurisdiction of EO 74 to exit.
Despite the looming deadline of the ban imposed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., PAOCC has identified that there are still 100 suspected guerrilla-style POGOs operating across the Philippines.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz stated that enforcement efforts will intensify in January, focusing on hotels, resorts, and residential areas suspected of harboring small illegal POGO centers.
