Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 23) — A total of 18 erring Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have been ordered to cease their operations after failing to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The following nine non-compliant POGO players are all offshore-based and duly licensed by Cagayan Export Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) to engage in interactive gaming:
– Asian BGE Limited
– Fine Day Holdings Limited
– Hana Talk Inc.
– NCGAC Limited
– NEO Kingdom Limited
– Oak Tree Services, Limited
– Succeed Asia Limited
– Wealthy Leap
– WUS Technologies Holdings Limited
The operations of their service providers are also suspended:
– Alpha Fortune Management Solutions, Inc.
– Empire Group International & Management Tech Services, Inc.
– Hi-Source Services, Inc.
– Kui Business Services, Inc.
– Lyndhurst Services, Inc.
– Pacific Solutions Management
– Rimrock ICT Services, Inc.
– Succeed Asia Ventures, Inc.
– Top Asia Leisure and Entertainment Corporation
Operations of these companies will remain suspended until they settle their registration requirements and clear the corresponding deficiency taxes and penalties.
Pursuant to Section 2 of Republic Act No 11590 or the POGO Law, the BIR stressed that an Offshore Gaming Licensee shall be considered as engaged in doing business in the Philippines, which demands them to register with the bureau.
Failure to pay their taxes will result in business closures, the BIR warned.
“May these closure operations against unregistered POGO entities, along with our other tax enforcement activities like filing of tax evasion cases and intensified tax audit and investigation, serve as a deterrent for those who would commit tax violation,” Commissioner Caesar Dulay was quoted as saying in the statement.
“We urge all taxpayers to comply with the Bureau’s registration requirement, filing and payment of taxes, and other tax obligations in order to avoid facing business closure, penalties and possible criminal charges before the court,” Dulay added.
In a statement on Wednesday, the BIR said it ordered the closure during the enforcement operations conducted by its POGO Taskforce last Feb. 11.
