MANILA — In a significant policy shift, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared a total ban on Philippine online gaming operators (POGOs), causing a stir among politicians who relied on financial support from these entities for the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections. Representative Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte’s 2nd District applauded the move, highlighting the negative social impacts of POGOs as outweighing their economic benefits.
According to Philippines News Agency, the President’s directive has disrupted the plans of many politicians who had previously benefited from the online gaming industry's contributions. The ban, set to take effect by the end of this year, mandates a comprehensive shutdown of all POGO activities, with enforcement expected from multiple government agencies including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Justice, among others.
Barbers, who chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, emphasized the urgency of holding violators accountable and ensuring thorough execution of the ban. He also noted the financial and social damage inflicted by POGOs, citing a range of criminal activities linked to their operations, such as wire fraud, kidnapping, and human trafficking. The representative’s concerns about the gaming operators extend back to 2019, when he first warned that POGOs could become channels for illegal drug trafficking and money laundering.
The crackdown is also poised to affect "Bagong Makapili" or so-called Chinese enablers—government officials who have allegedly turned a blind eye to the illicit activities fostered by POGOs in exchange for various perks. Barbers underscored the manipulation of Philippine legal systems by some foreign nationals, including a case involving a Chinese trader illegally acquiring Filipino identification to conduct extensive real estate transactions under the guise of legitimacy.