Senate approves anti-POGO bill on final reading

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.

Senate Bill 2868, also known as the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, received 23 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions. 

It was authored by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Bong Go, Raffy Tulfo, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, and Risa Hontiveros.

The bill declared offshore gaming operations in the Philippines as unlawful.

It was approved on second reading last June 4.  

Under the bill, violators may face imprisonment of not less than six years to up to 12 years and be fined at least P300,000.

The bill also states that if the violator is a public official or employee, the maximum penalty will be imposed. 

“Dahil sa bill na ito, mas mahigpit na ang mga patakaran sa pag rehistro ng mga korporasyon. Dahil sa bill na ito, mas malaki na ang mga parusa sa mga ganid na opisyales ng gobyerno na nakikipagsabwatan sa mga POGO boss,” Hontiveros said in her manifestation.

“Dahil sa bill na ito, hindi na basta basta makakatakas sa layover ang mga masasamang loob na pinapadeport natin. Dahil sa bill na ito, ang mga nakuha na mga properties na galing sa krimen na POGO-related ay maaari nang gamitin ng estado ng mas mabilis para tulungan ang mga biktima. Dahil sa bill na ito, wala na – at least on paper – ang bangungot ng POGO,” she added.

(With this bill, we have stricter rules for registering corporations. With this bill, we have heavier penalties for corrupt government officials who conspire with POGO bosses. With this bill, deported foreigners will no longer simply escape during layover. With this bill, the properties seized from POGO-related crimes can now be used by the state to help victims. With this bill, the POGO nightmare is no more — at least on paper.)

In 2024, authorities discovered some POGO hubs engaging in human trafficking and physical and sexual abuse. This includes POGO hubs in Bambam, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga.

This led to the arrest of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also identified as Guo Hua Ping, for alleged involvement in the illegal activities of a POGO hub in her town. –NB/RF, GMA Integrated News