Abalos: No Pogo in Cebu but will investigate suspicious sites

Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. —Benhur Abalos Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — There are no registered Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in Cebu province, but suspicious activities related to the now-banned industry were reported, according to Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr.

Abalos made the revelation in an ambush interview at the National Bureau of Investigation, citing the reports of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairman Alejandro Tengco.

The Department of Interior and Local Government chief also said he will go to Cebu province next week to investigate.

“We’re going to Cebu next week, because there are reports that there are such activities,” Abalos said, partly in Filipino, referring to suspicious structures similar to those raided Pogo hubs recently.

“But remember there are no Pogo in Cebu, no licensed Pogo — nothing,” Abalos also said, without further elaborating.

Abalos noted that the raided Pogo in Porac, Pampanga and Bamban, Tarlac were also unlicensed.

During a Pogo hub raid in Porac town in June, a total of 186 people were rescued over reports of human trafficking, with some of the foreign employees allegedly tortured or sold for sex.

READ: Pampanga Pogo linked to scams, trafficking; 186 rescued in raid

Last March 13, 371 Filipinos and 497 foreigners were rescued from a Pogo hub in Bamban, Tarlac, which was raided for alleged human trafficking involvement.

The Pogo was linked to now suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. instructed the ban of Pogo sites in his third State of the Nation Address.

Marcos gave Pagcor until the end of the year to fully stop Pogo operations.