FIFTY-EIGHT Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) whose licenses have been cancelled are under close government surveillance.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is investigating reports the POGOs were still in business even with their internet gaming licenses (IGLs) frozen.

"The marching orders given to us are, now that there are problems associated with this particular online gaming platform, we have to address," PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio was quoted as saying in a forum last Saturday.

PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio

"I don't want to put numbers to it but what we know is this, because of the amount of money being laundered through illegal online gaming platforms, the Philippines up to now still remains in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force as not having done sufficiently enough to prevent money laundering to occur in the Philippines," he said.

Casio said the POGOs under PAOCC watch are in Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Palawan and Cebu.

Because the commission only has 49 operatives doing the monitoring, it is asking for the cooperation of local government units (LGUs), Casio said.

"We're trying to be proactive about it. First, we will talk to the IGL. What we've been telling them is 'do not allow yourself to be a conduit of illegal activities'," he said.

"Next, we will talk to the LGUs. This is being organized by Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation), we are just helping out. We are going to talk to all of the LGUs where there are IGLs," Casio added.

Several senators are calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to order a complete ban on POGO firms because they threaten national security and have developed ties with organized crime.

POGOs are allegedly involved in illicit activities such as money laundering, human trafficking and financial scams.

Marcos has yet to respond to the appeal.

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