Police commanders in the Philippines have been directed to coordinate with local government units in spotting Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) that are operating despite being banned, according to Manila Bulletin.
The report does not specify which agency issued the directive or when it took effect.
The instruction comes as authorities continue enforcement against illegal offshore gaming. Manila Bulletin reports that five women were arrested in a raid on a POGO hub in Makati. Daily Tribune, also cited in the same summary, reported that a digital trail led investigators to the five suspects, while Manila Standard and ABS-CBN both reported the arrests in Makati over alleged illegal offshore gaming operations.
The summary does not include the date of the raid, the specific charges filed, or further details on the suspects.
Under the setup described by Manila Bulletin, police commanders would work through local government units, which are closest to communities and commercial premises, to identify operations that may still be running. The summary does not describe the mechanism for reporting or how detections would be acted on.
What to watch next: whether police and local government units report detected operations publicly, and how the cases against the five arrested in Makati proceed.
