Key Points
- Law enforcement agencies are pursuing fraud networks that have restructured into smaller, decentralized operations following the POGO prohibition
- General Nartatez of the PNP reports ongoing dismantling efforts with continued enforcement measures
- Active operations identified in Baclaran, Binondo, Parañaque, Palawan, and Cebu regions
- Approximately 100 unauthorized offshore gaming operations continued functioning secretly past the year-end 2024 closure mandate
- Government entities formalized enforcement regulations in April 2026 to implement permanent prohibition under Executive Order No. 74
Philippine law enforcement has escalated efforts against fraud operations that have reemerged in fragmented, more elusive configurations after the nation’s prohibition of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., leading the PNP, stated on Sunday that authorities are actively investigating intelligence regarding scam centers still functioning through condensed networks. Multiple operations have been successfully dismantled, though enforcement activities remain in full swing.
Authorities are concerned that organizations previously linked to POGOs have restructured their operations into more compact units following the ban. Robert Ace Barbers, who previously chaired the House quad committee, highlighted these worries, characterizing the reformed groups as employing more clandestine operational methods.
Barbers identified particular areas where these illicit activities are reportedly occurring: the Baclaran, Binondo, and Parañaque districts within Metro Manila, alongside the provinces of Palawan and Cebu. Law enforcement has expanded surveillance across these territories.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
According to Nartatez, the PNP is collaborating with various government departments to enhance information exchange, monitoring capabilities, and unified enforcement actions. The objective is to prevent these networks from maintaining operations through concealed or diminished structures.
This renewed enforcement campaign follows the April 2026 signing of implementation guidelines by government bodies to guarantee the complete termination of POGO activities. These regulations enforce Executive Order No. 74, issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on November 4, 2024, which outlawed all POGOs and internet gaming licensees.
The directive mandated complete cessation of all operations by December 31, 2024. However, despite this firm deadline, law enforcement discovered approximately 100 “rogue” POGO operations continuing to function secretly within residential properties, hospitality establishments, and vacation facilities.
This discovery has significantly influenced the government’s enforcement strategy as officials endeavor to block any resurgence under reorganized frameworks.
Evolving Operational Methods
The primary obstacle facing authorities is the apparent adaptation of these criminal networks. Rather than maintaining large, conspicuous facilities, operators have transitioned to smaller installations that prove significantly more difficult for law enforcement to locate and terminate.
Authorities characterize this new operational framework as “guerrilla-style” — fragmented and flexible. This transformation complicates surveillance and enforcement compared to addressing stationary, large-footprint operations.
The PNP maintains an unwavering stance: enforcement intensity will not diminish. Nartatez emphasized that authorities will continue validating incoming reports and sustaining pressure through inter-agency cooperation.
Government officials recognize that formal prohibition alone proves insufficient without persistent enforcement. The continuing volume of reported activity justifies maintaining active operations.
The administration’s forthcoming challenge involves ensuring enforcement momentum persists as these networks continuously evolve and minimize their detectability.
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