Philippine Police Intensify Crackdown on Resurgent Scam Hubs

Philippine police have stepped up operations against scam hubs that have re-emerged in smaller, “guerrilla-style” networks after the government’s crackdown on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, or POGOs. Authorities said the illegal activity remains under close watch as they work to prevent the groups from rebuilding in less visible forms.

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Police Verify Fresh Reports

PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said on Sunday that police are checking reports that scam hubs are still operating in parts of the country through scaled-down networks. He said a number of hubs had already been dismantled, but enforcement will continue in the interest of public protection and the rule of law.

The renewed attention follows concerns that some POGO-linked groups may have reorganized after the ban into smaller operations that are harder to detect. Former House quad committee overall chair Robert Ace Barbers had earlier raised those concerns, pointing to what he described as suspected groups continuing to work in a more discreet way.

Barbers identified Baclaran, Binondo, and Parañaque in Metro Manila, along with Palawan and Cebu, as among the places where these clandestine activities are allegedly taking place. Those locations have now become part of the wider focus of the police response.

Coordinated Enforcement Effort

Nartatez said the PNP will keep pressure on all scam hub operations by working with other agencies to strengthen intelligence sharing, surveillance, and coordinated enforcement. The police response is aimed at stopping the networks from operating in hidden or reduced forms after the formal shutdown of POGOs.

The latest operations come after government agencies signed implementing rules in April to ensure the permanent closure of POGOs. The Inter-Agency Standard Operating Procedures enforce Executive Order No. 74, which was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on November 4, 2024, banning all POGOs and internet gaming licensees.

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Ban Still Being Enforced

Authorities had earlier reported that at least 100 “rogue” POGOs were still operating covertly in houses, hotels, and resorts despite being ordered to cease activities by December 31, 2024. That earlier finding continues to shape the government’s approach as it tries to prevent any resurgence of the operations under new or reduced structures.

The current police campaign reflects that broader enforcement effort. While the crackdown on POGOs formally moved the sector out of legal operation, officials are now dealing with networks that appear to have adapted by becoming smaller and less visible.

Ongoing Public Protection Drive

For the PNP, the issue now is not only shutting down the existing hubs but also making sure they do not return under different guises. Nartatez said the police will continue to verify reports and maintain pressure together with other agencies.

The continuing probe shows that even after the ban, authorities still see enough activity to warrant sustained enforcement. With scam hubs reportedly shifting into more discreet forms, the government’s next challenge is keeping the crackdown from losing momentum.

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Source: Asia Gaming Brief