TLDR
- Philippine police are targeting scam hubs that have re-emerged in smaller, harder-to-detect networks after the POGO ban
- PNP chief General Nartatez confirmed hubs are being dismantled but enforcement is ongoing
- Locations named include Baclaran, Binondo, Parañaque, Palawan, and Cebu
- At least 100 “rogue” POGOs were still operating covertly despite a December 31, 2024 shutdown deadline
- Agencies signed implementing rules in April 2026 to enforce the permanent POGO closure under Executive Order No. 74
Philippine police have ramped up operations against scam hubs that have returned in smaller, harder-to-track forms following the government’s ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. confirmed on Sunday that police are actively checking reports of scam hubs still running through scaled-down networks. He said a number of hubs have already been shut down, but enforcement is continuing.
The concern is that POGO-linked groups may have reorganized after the ban into smaller operations. Former House quad committee chair Robert Ace Barbers raised those concerns, describing the groups as working in a more discreet way.
Barbers named specific locations where these activities are allegedly taking place: Baclaran, Binondo, and Parañaque in Metro Manila, as well as Palawan and Cebu. These areas are now part of the wider police focus.
Coordinated Agency Response
Nartatez said the PNP is working with other government agencies to improve intelligence sharing, surveillance, and coordinated enforcement. The goal is to stop the networks from continuing to operate in hidden or reduced forms.
This latest push follows government agencies signing implementing rules in April 2026 to ensure the permanent closure of POGOs. Those rules enforce Executive Order No. 74, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on November 4, 2024, which banned all POGOs and internet gaming licensees.
The order required all operations to cease by December 31, 2024. Despite that deadline, authorities found that at least 100 “rogue” POGOs were still running covertly in houses, hotels, and resorts.
That finding has continued to shape the government’s enforcement approach as officials work to prevent any comeback under new structures.
Scam Hubs Shifting Tactics
The core challenge now is that these networks appear to have adapted. Instead of large, visible operations, they are running smaller setups that are harder for authorities to find and shut down.
Police describe the new model as “guerrilla-style” — decentralized and mobile. This makes surveillance and enforcement more complex than dealing with fixed, large-scale operations.
The PNP’s position is clear: the crackdown will not ease up. Nartatez said police will keep verifying reports and maintain pressure alongside partner agencies.
Officials acknowledge that even after a formal ban, sustained enforcement is needed. The activity level still being reported is enough to keep the operation active.
The government’s next challenge is ensuring the crackdown does not lose momentum as these networks continue to adapt and reduce their visibility.
