INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Amid growing security concerns regarding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Thursday confirmed that some gaming hubs are operating near Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. raised the alarm on Pogo sites near military bases, saying they must be stopped due to the illegal activities that spring from them.
READ: Pogo operations near PH military bases should be stopped–Teodoro
“We have already investigated some online gaming platforms, online gaming sites that are near military sites. In fact, a good number of them are located near Edca sites,” said PAOCC spokesperson John Casio at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon Public Briefing.
“We have shared our concerns with the proper authorities,” added Casio.
Edca sites are where United States military troops are stationed in the Philippines.
READ: Probe surge of Chinese nationals near Edca sites—Rep. Barbers
Casio said that they hoped that Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and other regulatory agencies could work with the Department of National Defense on the matter.
“So that once and for all, we are able to ensure that not a single scam farm, or not a single licenses Pogo for that matter, would be located near our Edca sites,” said Casio.
READ: Pagcor: No licensed Pogo hubs next to military camps
However, the Pagcor earlier stated that there were no licensed Pogo operations near military camps.
Pagcor Chairman Alejandro Tengco said in a separate interview that should there be any Pogo sites near military bases, they are operating illegally.