Marcos signs anti-POGO act into law
Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure that bans illegal offshore gaming operations (POGO) in the country, the Palace said on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Signed on Oct. 23, the Republic Act 12312 permanently withdraws the license of POGO entities, including accredited service providers, ordering them to “wind down their operations.”
It also revoked the power of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, special economic zone authorities, freeport authorities, investment promotion agencies, and other government agencies to issue permits for POGOs.
The law prohibits any person and entity to conduct unlawful offshore gaming, create and operate POGO hubs, aid and protect POGOs, and use and possess offshore gaming equipment, among others.
“Any corporation which includes in its purpose any of the prohibited acts under Section 4 is directed to amend its Articles of Incorporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 30 days from the effectivity of this act. Otherwise, its Certificate of Registration shall be deemed revoked by the SEC,” the law read.
The measure added that all POGOs whose licenses have already been revoked shall remain liable for all taxes and regulatory fees up to the last day of their operations.
The law also prohibited “any person or entity to recruit, obtain, hire, provide, offer, transport, transfer, maintain, harbor, or receive any Filipino or alien for purposes of employment, training, or apprenticeship in offshore gaming operations.”
The Department of Labor and Employment was directed to carry out transition plans for affected Filipino workers.
An administrative oversight committee – composed of the Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission, Department of Justice, Department of Information Communications Technology, and the Department of Interior and Local Government, was tasked to ensure the implementation of the measure, including the probe of those who will be punished under the law.
Offenders may be imprisoned for six to 12 years depending on the level of offense.
“If the offender is juridical entity, the penalties shall be imposed on the entity’s responsible officer,” the law read.
“If the offender is a public official or employee, the maximum of the applicable penalty shall be imposed,” it added, noting that government officials who will be guilty of the crime shall be dismissed and perpetually banned from holding public office.
In his State of the Nation Address in 2024, Marcos ordered government agencies to ban POGOs by the end of the year, in the wake of criminal activities linked to offshore gaming and an investigation into a POGO hub connected to former Bamban Tarlac, Mayor Alice Guo.
In a statement, Sen. Win Gatchalian said “the enactment of the anti-POGO law ensures sustained government action against POGO-like entities that have remained in the country despite the ban implemented starting this year.”
