Remulla ordered NBI to close down illegal POGOs — spox

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to close down illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said Monday.

At the public briefing, Clavano said data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation showed that there have been 175 canceled POGOs as of September 14, 2022. Clavano said they have yet to obtain the number of legal POGOs.

"Si Secretary Remulla in-order na niya, inutusan na niya ang NBI, PNP with the assistance of PAGCOR to ensure na saraduhin na 'yung mga office ng mga ito... Hindi pa nag bigay ng preliminary report ang NBI at PNP dito sa mga closures," Clavano said.

[Secretary Remulla has ordered the NBI, PNP with the assistance of PAGCOR to close down the offices. The NBI and the PNP have yet to give a preliminary report regarding this.]

Clavano said the DOJ is seeking to arrest illegal POGO workers within the first week of October and have them deported by mid-October.

He said there are currently 281 workers under government custody in Pampanga.

"Ang direksyon po ni Secretary Remulla ay within the first week of October magsisimula na po ang paghuhuli ng mag POGO employees na mga ito and, hopefully, by mid October makapag deport na po tayo ng about 2,000 to 3,000 employees," he said.

[The direction of Secretary Remulla is to start the arrest of POGO employees within the first week of October and hopefully, by mid-October, we can deport around 2,000 to 3,000.]

Clavano also said Remulla met with the Chinese Embassy to ensure that foreign POGO employees are cared for. Remulla previously said the employees cannot be deported all at once as it may cause a humanitarian crisis.

"The reason why gusto natin maging batch per batch itong pag deport natin ay para hindi sila mate-tengga doon sa kanilang mga tirahan, sa mga stay na inistayan nila, and we make sure na the food, the sustenance is adequate for them to ba able to subsist," he said.

[The reason why we want this done per batch is so they will not overstay at establishments and we make sure that their food is adequate for them.]

He said the employees will stay at hotels at their own expense.

"They will stay there under their own expense up until hindi na siguro nila kaya na i-maintain no 'yung kanilang tirahan or 'yung pagkain nila. That's the only time the government will come in and spend for the food and lodging of the Chinese nationals," he said.

[They will stay there at their own expense up until they can't maintain it anymore. That's the only time the government will come in and spend for their food and lodging.]

Meanwhile, he said the total ban of POGOs in the country should be discussed with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — RSJ, GMA News