After President Marcos ordered ban: Cebu City to monitor POGO-like activities
CEBU, Philippines — Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia yesterday said that while there are no Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in Cebu City, based on data provided by the City’s Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), he would monitor similar activities in the city.
He said following ban on POGO ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.
He said that not one of the around 40,000 establishments were registered businesses in Cebu City is a POGO operation.
"There is no legal POGO operations here in the city of Cebu...so I hope that is clear," Garcia said.
He said, though, that he would still double-check such data, which BPLO provided, to be sure.
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco had said that they received reports on POGO-like activities in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu.
"This is what I can assure you, I am working closely with the PNP and the NBI regarding this matter.... Wa man gud ta kahibaw gud kung naa ba gyud or dili," said Garcia.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, Jr. then said he would meet with the local chief executives on the matter, which Garcia said he welcomed.
Garcia said that should it be proven that there are indeed POGO-like operations in the city, "full support gyud ang City Government” against it.
In particular, he would have establishments registered as business process outsourcing ventures checked if they are not front for POGO activities.
"We will have an inspection," Garcia said.
Banning Pogos and pushing the claim over the West Philippine Sea were among the top issues that Marcos addressed during the SONA, the third during his six-year presidency. — (FREEMAN)
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