Hontiveros wants POGO crime network crushed

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday urged authorities to go beyond shutting down hubs and dismantle the entire criminal network linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), following the rollout of new enforcement rules.

Hontiveros warned that many POGO sites functioned as fronts for a broader web of illegal activities, including human trafficking, scam operations, extortion, illegal detention and money laundering—issues she said continue to persist despite the ban.

“These hubs were a cover for an entire criminal ecosystem… Lahat yan, sa ngayon, hindi pa tuluyang nabubuwag (All of these have not yet been completely dismantled),” she said.

She stressed that enforcement must target not just physical locations but the full structure sustaining the operations.

“The SOP must go after that entire architecture… Habulin ang mga operator, protector, recruiter, financier, at lahat ng nagpahintulot sa sistemang ito (Go after the operators, protectors, recruiters, financiers, and everyone who allowed this system),” she added, emphasizing there should be no space for POGOs in the country.

The government recently rolled out unified Standard Operating Procedures to strengthen inter-agency coordination and clarify the legal framework for enforcing the ban.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto led the signing of the SOP at Malacañan Palace, calling it a critical step in implementing the directive “with speed, resolve, and coordination.”

The new SOP consolidates key policies, including Executive Order 74 and Republic Act 12312, into a unified plan that covers intelligence gathering, operations, evidence handling, prosecution and asset preservation.