 Law to flush out overstaying aliens.){kind=link}
THE NEW ANTI-POGO Law needs to capacitate the new Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Law to flush out overstaying aliens.
Republic Act 12312, also known as the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, which institutionalizes a ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the Philippines was signed into law on October 23, 2025.
It repealed Republic Act 11590, the old law that taxed POGOs but gave rise to public dismay due to a spike in heinous crimes statistics attributed to the offshore gaming operations.
The new law ended the sway of the POGOs—their establishment, and related activities, such as providing services to them.
‘It will be recalled that the new law was passed citing risks to national security as its main desideratum. Without additional funding, the PAOCC will be financially bled dry and the goal of the law will remain just that: a goal.’
Aside from the express repeal of RA 11590, the salient features of the new law, among others, are:
(a) Nationwide ban: The law permanently prohibits the establishment, operation, or conduct of offshore gaming in the Philippines;
(b) Criminalizes POGO-related activities: The act prohibits a wide range of activities, including accepting bets for offshore gaming, acting as a POGO service or content provider, and establishing POGO hubs;
(c) Penalizes aiding and abetting: It also criminalizes aiding or abetting POGO operations, such as providing property, documents, or digital platforms in support of their activities;
(d) Cancels work permits: The law automatically cancels the work permits and visas of all individuals engaged in POGO operations; and
(e) Mandates asset forfeiture: It mandates the forfeiture of all POGO-related properties and equipment.
The new law also created and/or constituted the Administrative Oversight Committee (AOC) chaired by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) as members.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW LAW
AOC’s main task is to oversee the implementation of the law.
However, with the stewardship of the law’s implementation vested in the newly created Administrative Oversight Committee (AOC) whose chair—the PAOCC has insufficient funds, it would be best for Congress to allocate some Php300 million to PAOCC’s operation to defray the AOC-related expenses that will be incurred in the implementation of the new law, especially the flushing out of thousands upon thousands of foreign nationals whose visas and other travel authorities have expired.
These unaccounted foreign nationals have long gone into hiding posing a serious national security issue.
It will be recalled that the new law was passed citing risks to national security as its main desideratum.
Without additional funding, the PAOCC will be financially bled dry and the goal of the law will remain just that: a goal.
The new Executive Secretary and the new Executive Office of the PAOCC should seek the congressional support of Senators Win Gatchalian, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Riza Hontivirus—both staunch anti-POGO advocates, to propose amendments to the 2026 budget proposals, if only to see the fruition of the nation’s vehemence over POGO-related crimes.