The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced on Tuesday that the last remaining Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub in the country has been shut down, following the closure of the Island Cove hub in Kawit, Cavite.
The hub, which was inspected by authorities, was found to be without power and showing no signs of habitation or business activity.
“As of last month, there was no electricity in the buildings here. They were shut down. So, you can see there are no signs of habitation here. No signs of business,” said Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) Jonvic Remulla.
The closure of the hub, which occupied 30 hectares of land and had 57 buildings, has left around 40,000 workers without jobs.
However, PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco said that there are no more POGO hubs operating in the country.
Despite the shutdown, there are reports that some POGO hubs are still operating illegally.
“After January 1, you will see the power of the government against this. We will make sure that the President’s promise of no POGO by January 1 is fulfilled,” said Philippine National Police chief P/General Rommel Francisco Marbil.
The shutdown of the POGO hubs is part of the government’s efforts to crack down on the industry, which has been linked to money laundering and other illegal activities.
Discover more from Cavite News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.