The Philippine government has finalized a comprehensive “omnibus action plan” to permanently dismantle the offshore gaming industry, formalizing a unified strategy to prevent the return of illegal gambling hubs under new guises.
On Wednesday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto presided over the signing of the interagency Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Executive Order No. 74.
The move serves as the operational blueprint for Republic Act No. 12312, also known as the “POGO Ban Act,” which criminalized offshore gaming operations late last year.
Recto, who had previously recommended the ban during his tenure as Finance Secretary, emphasized that the social costs of the industry far outweighed any economic gains.
“That directive was the first decisive step in dismantling an industry that had promised much in revenues and jobs, but in reality delivered little beyond immense suffering to countless Filipinos,” Recto said.
The Executive Secretary added that the new protocols effectively:
“…puts the final nail in the coffin [of POGOs and would prevent their] resurrection in a different form.”
A Unified Front
The SOP consolidates 15 existing laws and department orders into a single workflow. This “omnibus” approach streamlines everything from intelligence gathering and physical raids to the prosecution of offenders and the preservation of seized assets.
Key agencies have been assigned specific roles to ensure no loopholes remain:
- PAOCC: Acts as the lead coordinating body for all operations.
- Department of Justice (DOJ): Prosecutors will be involved during the initial “case buildup” phase to ensure higher conviction rates.
- AMLC & SEC: Tasked with tracking financial trails and corporate intelligence to freeze illicit proceeds.
- DSWD: Responsible for sheltering victims of human trafficking and ensuring they are treated as survivors rather than criminals.
Beyond enforcement, Recto noted that the guidelines are designed to “clean up the mess the social scourge left behind,” specifically targeting the rehabilitation of trafficked individuals and the repurposing of buildings previously used as “scam hubs.”
Under the current law, the establishment of POGO hubs, the acceptance of offshore bets, and the possession of POGO-related equipment are strictly prohibited and carry criminal penalties.