Key Points
- Law enforcement agencies are pursuing fragmented scam networks that evolved into covert “guerrilla-style” operations following the offshore gaming prohibition
- National police leadership under General Nartatez reports successful dismantling of multiple hubs with continued enforcement actions planned
- Intelligence suggests active operations in Metro Manila areas including Baclaran, Binondo, and Parañaque, plus Palawan and Cebu provinces
- Authorities discovered approximately 100 unauthorized offshore gaming operations continuing clandestinely past the year-end 2024 closure mandate
- Multi-agency collaboration aims to strengthen intelligence networks and enhance monitoring capabilities
Law Enforcement Escalates Campaign Against Evolving Criminal Networks
Authorities in the Philippines have intensified their pursuit of illegal scam operations that have transformed into smaller, more elusive entities following the nationwide prohibition of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.
National Police Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced over the weekend that investigative teams are actively examining intelligence reports regarding persistent scam hub activities throughout the archipelago. While confirming the successful takedown of numerous facilities, he emphasized that enforcement efforts remain a top priority.
This escalated campaign follows mounting evidence that organizations previously linked to offshore gaming have restructured into decentralized, low-profile operations since regulatory authorities implemented the comprehensive ban.
Former congressional quad committee chairman Robert Ace Barbers highlighted these developments, identifying suspected groups that continue functioning beneath the radar. Barbers specifically referenced locations in Metro Manila’s Baclaran, Binondo, and Parañaque districts, alongside the provinces of Palawan and Cebu, as areas where underground activities allegedly persist.
Inter-Agency Collaboration Framework
According to Nartatez, the national police force has established partnerships with multiple government entities to bolster information exchange, enhance monitoring operations, and coordinate enforcement actions. The objective centers on preventing these networks from reconstituting themselves in reduced or concealed configurations.
These current initiatives follow implementing regulations adopted by government bodies in April 2026 designed to ensure the permanent termination of offshore gaming operations. The regulations operationalize Executive Order No. 74, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued on November 4, 2024, prohibiting all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and internet gaming license holders.
Law enforcement had earlier identified roughly 100 unauthorized offshore gaming establishments continuing to function secretly in residential properties, hospitality facilities, and vacation resorts beyond the December 31, 2024 compliance deadline. This discovery continues to shape the government’s enforcement strategy.
Current Enforcement Strategy
Officials indicate the primary challenge has evolved from shuttering legitimate POGO facilities to identifying networks that have deliberately reduced their footprint and visibility. Nartatez stated that authorities will maintain their investigative efforts and sustain operational pressure.
The national police force’s primary concern involves preventing these organizations from reestablishing themselves under alternative operational frameworks without consistent enforcement pressure. Officials have made clear that enforcement intensity will not diminish despite the networks’ adaptive strategies.
The sustained investigation indicates government confidence that sufficient illegal activity persists to warrant continuous operations. As scam networks reportedly transition into increasingly concealed arrangements, authorities remain determined to maintain momentum and prevent any resurgence of organized criminal activity.
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