Shekinah Jedidiah Alima 

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) denied the authenticity of a circulating memorandum that requires Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to halt their service as early as August this year. 

Photos Courtesy of Facebook/PAGCOR/Bantay Nakaw Coalition.

The fake memo, dated July 26, purportedly came from PAGCOR and claimed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had directed the termination of all POGO and Internet Gaming License (IGL) operations ‘as soon as possible.’

“All local government operations/groups are required to end these activities within the first week of August 2024,” the fake memo noted. 

Jessa Mariz Fernandez, PAGCOR assistant vice president and head of PAGCOR’s Offshore Gaming Licensing Department, immediately turned down the allegations on July 28.

“We have not issued a memorandum ordering LGUs to immediately close down POGO operations in their jurisdiction because the President’s order is very clear: We have until the end of the year to wind down POGO operations, and we will follow that,” Fernandez said. 

She explained that the fake memorandum was a manipulated version of an official document about the status of POGOs released last July 23.

The agency is now coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to identify and prosecute the individuals behind the fraudulent document.

“Whoever is behind this clearly has ulterior motives, and we shall ask the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate and unmask them to determine their motives,” she added.

During his third State of the Nation Address, Marcos announced the eventual ban on POGOs in the Philippines following the series of illegal activities, human trafficking and crimes associated with the industry.

Public opinion on the matter is overwhelmingly in favor of the POGO closure, with an OCTA Research survey from June 26 to July 1 showing 83% of respondents supporting the move.