Senate approves anti-POGO bill on final reading
The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.
Senate Bill 2868, also known as the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, received 23 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions.
It was authored by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Raffy Tulfo, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, and Risa Hontiveros.
The bill declared offshore gaming operations in the Philippines as unlawful.
It was approved on second reading last June 4.
Under the bill, violators may face imprisonment of not less than six years to up to 12 years and be fined at least P300,000.
The bill also states that if the violator is a public official or employee, the maximum penalty will be imposed.
In 2024, authorities discovered some POGO hubs engaging in human trafficking and physical and sexual abuse. This includes POGO hubs in Bambam, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga.
This led to the arrest of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also identified as Guo Hua Ping, for alleged involvement in the illegal activities of a POGO hub in her town. –NB, GMA Integrated News
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