Philippine crackdown on Pogos sparks fears of underground scams and espionage

Philippine offshore gaming operations (Pogos) driven underground by a nationwide ban could give rise to intelligence and scam operations, observers warn, leading to harder-to-detect scams and undermining elimination efforts due to the alleged involvement of local officials profiting from these activities.

In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, opposition senator Risa Hontiveros argued that Pogos, which mainly cater to a Chinese clientele, have not only been used to carry out scam operations, but also to “sow disinformation”.

“It seems that gambling, scams, and trafficking are not the only goals of these compounds, but spreading fake news too,” Hontiveros said at a Senate hearing.

Hontiveros has been leading the Senate investigation into the illegal Pogos in the country, following raids that exposed evidence of scam operations, money laundering, human trafficking, and torture in such compounds.

In July, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jnr announced an immediate ban on all Pogos, including licensed ones in his State of the Nation Address, ordering the industry to cease operations by the end of the year.

Yet, observers say Pogos are likely to go underground, exploiting the country’s weak institutions that would enable them to continue their operations in the Philippines.