PAGCOR Denies Fake Memo Ordering POGO Shutdown by August

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has refuted claims of issuing a document that orders Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to cease operations by August.

In a statement on Saturday, PAGCOR clarified that the alleged document is a counterfeit version of a memorandum released a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Atty. Jessa Mariz Fernandez, head of PAGCOR’s Offshore Gaming Licensing Department, explained that the forged document, dated July 26, directed local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to immediately ban POGOs. This fake memo was based on a genuine memorandum she issued on July 23.

“The document is blatant disinformation meant to cause chaos and confusion,” Fernandez stated.

The fraudulent memo instructed certain LGUs to terminate POGO operations by the first week of August.

Fernandez confirmed that her original letter to Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) and service providers on July 23 stated that operations could continue “pending the finalization of the details and process of winding down,” following the President’s SONA directive on July 22 to phase out POGOs by the end of the year.

“We have not issued any order for LGUs to shut down POGO operations immediately. The President’s directive is clear: We have until the end of the year to wind down POGO operations,” Fernandez reiterated.

She advised LGUs that licensed IGLs could keep operating until the winding-down process is finalized. PAGCOR plans to request the National Bureau of Investigation to uncover those responsible for the counterfeit memo and their motives.

PAGCOR has also appealed to spare 12 out of 43 POGOs from the nationwide ban, noting that they are solely customer service agents for gaming companies.