MANILA — Newly-appointed Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla assured that he will shut down the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) hub at the Island Cove in Cavite.
According to Remulla, he already talked to the POGO operators inside the Island Cove, their family’s former resort property in Cavite, and told them they will cease operations on December 15.
“That will be the first one to be closed. And correction, it’s not ours. It was our property, but it’s not ours today,” Remulla told the media on Wednesday.
“(The POGO hub in Island Cove) will be the first one to close, just to show proof of sincerity that I will start with my province and make sure that it is closed,” he added.
Remulla had repeatedly denied allegation that he and his family had been protectors of POGOs in Cavite, saying that the Island Cove property was sold by their family in 2018.
Aside from the POGO hub in Island Cove, Remulla said he was instructed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to personally ensure that all POGO will cease operating in the Philippines by December this year.
“I will visit every POGO facility in the country and padlock their premises,” Remulla said.
During his 3rd State of the Nation Address, President Marcos has announced the ban on all POGOs in the country. He instructed PAGCOR to cease all operations of POGOs by the end of the year.
Foreign workers of POGO hubs are given until October 15 to voluntarily downgrade their visas. The Department of Justice said that the 9G visas of these workers will be downgraded to tourist visas starting October 16./PN
