THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) condemned the spread of supposed official letters and text messages falsely claiming that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) will reopen.
During his State of the Nation Address in July, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. banned all offshore gaming operations, citing POGO links to illegal activities such as money laundering and financial scams.
“It has come to our attention that some people are enticing potential investors into paying huge amounts for supposed limited slots of POGO licenses, and saying POGOs will be supposedly operating directly under PAGCOR,” PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco said in a statement on Feb. 2. He said POGOs remain banned, and has no plans for their return now or in the foreseeable future.
The ban officially took effect on 1 Jan. this year after Mr. Marcos signed Executive Order No. 74 on Nov. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante