Ex-POGO workers possibly sneaking out illegal devices amid ban — PNP-ACG

Some workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) are possibly retrieving illegal devices from their facilities following the ban, the Philippine National Police - Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) said Tuesday.

“Based on the operation and investigation conducted, there is a possibility that some former workers of POGOs retrieved devices from their facilities after the ban,” ACG spokesperson Police Lieutenant Wallen Mae Arancillo told GMA News Online in a message.

The ACG made the statement after its operation in Manila last March 27, in which an arrested suspect identified as “Popoy” told police that he bought his text blaster device from a former security guard of a POGO hub.

Authorities launched the entrapment operation against Popoy after they came across his Facebook post supposedly selling the unauthorized device for P10,000.

Confiscated from the suspect were a text blaster device and a SIM box, according to the PNP-ACG.

“According to the suspect, nabili niya ang device sa isang security guard na dating nagtatrabaho sa POGO ng P5,000. Hindi niya alam kung paano i-operate ang device kaya nakatago lang. Ibinenta niya sa halagang P10,000 kasi birthday po niya at need niya ng pera,” Wallen said.

(According to the suspect, he bought the device from a security guard who used to work at POGO for P5,000. He didn't know how to operate the device so he just hid it. He sold it for P10,000 because it was his birthday and he needed money.)

In July 2024, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced the ban on POGOs during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

POGOs were banned after they were linked to illegal activities such as scams.

Despite the ban, authorities said POGOs have shifted to smaller and more discreet "guerilla-style" operations to avoid detection. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News