The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has disowned a forged document purportedly issued by them, which orders Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to cease operations as early as August.
In a statement released on Saturday, PAGCOR clarified that the document was a manipulated version of a legitimate memorandum issued on July 23, a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA). PAGCOR’s head of Offshore Gaming Licensing Department, Atty. Jessa Mariz Fernandez, stated that the fraudulent document, dated July 26, falsely instructed local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to immediately ban POGOs in their areas by the first week of August.
“This is clear disinformation intended to create chaos and confusion,” Fernandez said.
Context and Clarifications:
- Original Memorandum: The authentic memo from July 23 advised Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) and service providers that, pending finalization of the winding-down process, operations could continue in the status quo. This was in response to President Marcos’s directive to close down POGOs by the end of the year, as announced in his SONA.
- False Claims: The falsified memo misleadingly claimed that POGOs needed to terminate operations by early August.
- Official Stance: Fernandez reiterated that PAGCOR has not issued any order for immediate closure of POGOs by LGUs. Licensed IGLs are permitted to operate until the winding-down process is finalized.
Further Actions:
- Investigation: PAGCOR intends to request the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate and identify those responsible for the forged document to uncover their motives.
PAGCOR’s Appeal: PAGCOR has also appealed to exempt 12 out of 43 POGOs from the nationwide ban, arguing that these entities serve only as customer service agents for gaming companies.
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