Philippines' Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla recently issued a stern warning to local government officials nationwide, demanding the complete eradication of the remnants of online gambling (POGO) within their jurisdictions, or face disciplinary actions and even legal accountability.
This directive stems from a recent joint operation by the Ministry of the Interior and law enforcement in the Tanmo area of Barangay City, where a raid on a suspected telecommunications fraud group resulted in the arrest of about 400 foreigners allegedly involved in online gambling and fraud activities. Remulla expressed strong concern over this matter and called for local governments to be vigilant and intensify inspections and rectifications against illegal online gambling activities.
In his warning, Remulla stated: "This is a clear message to all local officials: You must take your duties seriously, conduct regular inspections of commercial premises within your jurisdiction, and ensure that prohibited online gambling activities no longer exist. If we find that some officials are concealing information during inspections, they will be held accountable."
According to a memorandum issued on January 2, Remulla has asked local governments to work closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct surprise inspections on all premises suspected of engaging in illegal online gambling activities.
Furthermore, he explicitly requested that all local governments submit a "No Online Gambling Certificate" by the end of January 2025, to prove that there are no online gambling activities in their jurisdictions.
The memorandum also specifically emphasizes that local governments need to conduct comprehensive investigations of commercial premises and regularly report the results of inspections to the Ministry of the Interior. If illegal online gambling groups are found within their jurisdiction, local officials may be held accountable for supervisory negligence.
Regarding the case of the telecommunications fraud group in the Tanmo area of Barangay City, Remulla stated that the Ministry of the Interior will require the local government to explain why it allowed the illegal group to exist for a long time.
He further pointed out that this situation reflects the weak links in law enforcement and supervision by some local governments, which need to be corrected promptly.
Remulla urged all levels of local government to attach great importance to this operation, fully cooperate with the Ministry of the Interior and law enforcement agencies to ensure that Philippine communities are protected from illegal online gambling and telecommunications fraud.
He concluded by emphasizing: "Only by taking decisive actions can we completely eradicate these threats to society."
