MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered law enforcement agencies to arrest all individuals linked to the resurgence of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities and major drug smuggling operations across the country.
Speaking at a Palace briefing on Tuesday, October 20, Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the President directed authorities to seize all contraband and spare no one involved in criminal acts.
“Ang inuutos po ng Pangulo, hulihin lahat, lahat na makikita na gumagawa ng krimen,” Castro said, adding that enforcement measures are actively being carried out by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
Castro noted that the President is continuously updated on security threats, particularly regarding narcotics trafficking.
When asked about potential links to the Sam Gor syndicate following an intercepted drug shipment from Laos, she affirmed that the Chief Executive is fully aware of these illegal activities.
“Lagi naman pong nagri-report especially ang DILG, ang PDEA sa Pangulo. So batid ng Pangulo ang nangyayari lalung-lalo, of course, ito ay may kinalaman sa pagpupuslit ng mga illegal na droga dito sa ating bansa at iyan ang ayaw na mangyari ng Pangulo,” Castro explained.
Cautious Stance on Death Penalty
Addressing Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s proposal to restore capital punishment for major drug trafficking offenses, Malacañang stated that the administration respects the official’s perspective but emphasized that the measure requires intensive scrutiny.
“Ang mga pananaw po ni Sec. Jonvic Remulla ay alam natin nanggagaling sa puso dahil alam natin at nakikita natin kung ano iyong kaniyang nagiging experience sa panghuhuli ng mga gumagawa ng iligal. Kung ano ang kanyang pananaw ay irespeto natin sa ngayon ngunit ang usaping death penalty ay dapat na inaaral at binubusisi,” Castro stressed.
She added that the government must carefully evaluate international implications, including the global opposition to capital punishment from partner nations, which could impact diplomatic efforts and matters such as asylum.
“So, hindi po muna magbibigay ng anumang stance ang Pangulo. Hayaan nating aralin ito nang mas malalim,” she continued.
Action Against POGOs and Visa Policies
Regarding persistent reports of clandestine POGO operations following the total ban imposed in 2024, Palace officials pointed to recent law enforcement raids conducted this month in Makati City and Zamboanga Sibugay. Fl
Following disclosures by former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio that arrested Chinese nationals exploited visa-free entry privileges, Castro confirmed that the issue has been referred to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The DFA is now tasked with reviewing the current visa-free entry policy to determine if security loopholes are being abused by foreign criminal elements.
“Actually, because of that ipinaabot ko na po sa DFA iyong maaaring issue ng visa-free pabor sa ating mga kaibigan na Chinese,” Castro noted, adding, “So, titingnan din po nila kung ano ang nagiging issue or nagkakaroon ba ito nang hindi magandang epekto kung sa paggawa ang mga krimen dito sa Pilipinas o aaralin po ng DFA.”
Concluding the directive, the Palace maintained that security forces will persist in dismantling illicit networks: “So, ang utos ng Pangulo patungkol dito ay sugpuin ang kontrabando. Kung anuman ang iligal na ginagawa sa teritoryo ng Pilipinas dapat itong hanapin, papanagutin. At huwag titigil hangga’t hindi nauubos ang mga activities na ginagawa—ng mga gumagawa ng ganitong klaseng krimen.”