The Philippine government has introduced a unified inter-agency enforcement framework. It is aimed at strengthening implementation of its nationwide ban on offshore gambling operators. This marks a major escalation in its crackdown on illegal gambling networks linked to organised crime.
Multiple state agencies signed the Inter-Agency Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on the Implementation of Executive Order 74. This established a coordinated blueprint to enforce the closure of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and pursue related criminal activity. This includes unlicensed gambling operations.
Executive Order 74 and POGO Ban Act Drive Full Shutdown
Executive Order 74 was issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in November 2025. It ordered the immediate termination of all POGO activities. He cited national security threats and the sector’s repeated links to fraud, trafficking, and money laundering.
The crackdown is reinforced by Republic Act 12312, known as the POGO Ban Act, signed into law one month earlier. This Act provides statutory authority for the enforcement campaign. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto described the SOP signing as the “final nail in the coffin” for the offshore gambling industry.
SOP Covers Full Enforcement Lifecycle From Intelligence to Asset Seizure
The new SOP creates a standardised process across agencies covering the full enforcement chain. This includes intelligence gathering, coordinated raids, evidence handling, prosecution preparation, and asset preservation.
Rather than focusing only on closing physical hubs, the framework places increased emphasis on financial disruption. This includes formal procedures for safeguarding and managing seized assets linked to illegal gambling activity.
In total, the SOP aligns enforcement action with 15 existing laws and departmental directives, consolidating them into one operational structure.
PAOCC Leads Coordination, DOJ Prosecutors Embedded Earlier
Under the framework, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) will serve as the lead coordinating agency overseeing joint operations.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will embed prosecutors earlier in investigations. This aims to strengthen case-building, improve conviction rates, and ensure enforcement actions translate into successful prosecutions rather than short-term closures.
AMLC and SEC Tasked With Tracing Financial Networks
Financial intelligence is central to the framework. The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will play key roles in tracing illicit financial flows. In addition, they will identify corporate structures used to conceal illegal operations, and support asset seizure strategies.
This reflects a shift toward dismantling entire criminal ecosystems rather than targeting individual operators.
Victim Protection Included in Enforcement Strategy
The SOP also includes victim protection protocols. It recognises that trafficking victims linked to illegal POGO operations should not be treated as offenders.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide shelter and support services, while ensuring access to witness protection pathways where applicable. Authorities said the framework is informed by operational experience and international cooperation. This includes input from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Authorities Warn Illegal Operators Continue to Adapt
Recto warned that illegal offshore operators have repeatedly resurfaced using new branding, corporate structures, and technology platforms. This has made enforcement increasingly complex.
To address this, the SOP is designed to be flexible and proactive, allowing agencies to move beyond reactive shutdowns. Instead, it advances toward a sustained strategy. The focus is on dismantling networks, financial infrastructure, and transnational criminal links connected to offshore gambling.
