### Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations Dwindling
The Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) are steadily disappearing. Back in July, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took decisive action by issuing a ban on these gaming operations, which had been linked to crimes such as human trafficking, prostitution, and even murder. He mandated an immediate shutdown with a full phase-out by the end of December.
According to Alejandro Tengco, who heads the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), this transition is progressing as planned. The number of POGOs has drastically decreased, now standing at just 17 from nearly 300 in 2019, as reported by the *Manila Times*. Tengco is confident that all licensed operations will cease by the year’s conclusion.
Unfortunately, the situation is less clear-cut when it comes to unlicensed activities. Jonvic Remulla, Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), cautions that homegrown illegal operations may arise as enterprising Filipinos go underground. “We are launching efforts to tackle the problem,” Remulla stated.
### Failures in Governance
A recent senate investigation wrapped up in November and identified that illegal POGOs had been infiltrated by Chinese influences, with some lawmakers accusing it of a strategy to position Chinese loyalists in influential roles within the Philippines. Central to this narrative is Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national who posed as a Filipina and was elected mayor in Bamban, Tarlac province in 2022. Guo allegedly played a significant role in operating a local POGO and is now facing multiple charges, including money laundering and human trafficking.
An editorial in the *Philippine Inquirer* critiqued Guo’s actions as emblematic of governance failures that enabled the growth of POGOs. The proximity of these operations to military bases and reports of People’s Liberation Army uniforms within their compounds raise issues of potential espionage, threatening national security and compromising defense capabilities.
### Ongoing Arrests and Deportations
Law enforcement sweeps continue, with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) planning charges against 60 individuals apprehended in a suspected POGO operation in Davao del Norte. The operation originally started in Luzon but relocated following other raids. NBI director Archie Albao suggested local authorities may have been complicit in shielding the operation.
Recently, 187 foreign POGO workers were escorted by the Philippines Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) to Ninoy Aquino Airport for deportation to Shanghai.
### Government Officials Under Scrutiny
In related updates, the Department of Justice undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty informed *GMA News* there is insufficient evidence to link former president Rodrigo Duterte to illegal POGOs. The industry thrived during Duterte’s tenure from 2016 to 2022. However, Harry Roque, Duterte’s former spokesman, has been accused of being the “legal head” of a POGO in Porac, Pampanga. Roque fled to Abu Dhabi, denying these accusations.
Finally, today’s reports in the *Philippine Star* suggest lawmakers may propose charges against 10 current and former governmental officials for their purported roles in POGOs, extrajudicial killings, and illegal drug activities. “We have to finalize our recommendations on Thursday,” said Robert Ace Barbers, a representative from Surigao del Norte, signaling that the proposals are to be presented for approval by the house of representatives.
