A bogus memorandum circulating that erroneously asserts local government units (LGUs) must immediately suspend the operations of offshore online gambling enterprises has drawn the wrath of the Philippine Amusement and gambling Corporation (Pagcor). This document was declared “fake” by Pagcor in a formal statement on Saturday.
The scenario was explained by Jessa Mariz Fernandez, the head of Pagcor’s offshore gaming licensing department. She said that the forged memo, which was dated July 26, was a modified copy of an authentic memo that had been released on July 23 after the President’s State of the Nation Address. The official memo recommended a systematic wind-down by year’s end rather than an abrupt termination.
Clarifying the President’s Directive
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had announced on July 22 that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), now referred to as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs), must end their operations by the end of the year. The bogus memo misrepresented this directive, advising some LGUs in Metro Manila to terminate POGO operations by the first week of August.
Pagcor’s statement quoted Fernandez, who firmly denied issuing any immediate shutdown order. “We have not issued a memorandum ordering LGUs to immediately close down POGO operations in their jurisdiction because the President’s order is very clear: We have until the end of the year to wind down POGO operations, and we will follow that,” she emphasized.
Fernandez condemned the false memo as a clear attempt to sow confusion and chaos, with unknown parties having ulterior motives. “Whoever is behind this clearly has ulterior motives, and we shall ask the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate and unmask them to determine their motives,” she added. Pagcor has reassured LGUs that licensed IGLs can continue their operations until a formal process for winding down is finalized.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Manila expressed support for the eventual cessation of offshore online gaming businesses in the Philippines, calling it “a welcome development.”
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges surrounding the regulation of online gaming in the Philippines, as authorities strive to balance economic interests with legal and ethical considerations.
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