Despite the several raids and seeming disintegration of operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is gearing up to go after guerrilla-type POGOs that are now allegedly being managed by Filipino crime syndicates.

According to PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, with the closure of many of the POGO hubs in several parts of the archipelago, they expect that the people behind the POGOs will continue their illegal operations but on a smaller scale to avoid being monitored and raided by the authorities.

“The illegal POGOs will have guerrilla operations in small residential areas or subdivisions. That’s where they will go,” Fajardo opined.

In reaction, she said that the PNP is regularly coordinating with other law enforcement agencies in its operations against the illegal POGOs.

“We have the STG (Special Tactics Group) Skimmer purposely for the manhunt and operation against POGOs,” she disclosed in reference to the special police team created in July to respond to the new problem.

Early in September, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. ordered POGOs banned in the country, giving them until the end of the year to wind up operations following the spate of crimes such as human trafficking, kidnaping and murder supposedly committed within the industry.

Fajardo said it is also not surprising that some Filipinos are involved with illegal POGOs, noting people behind the industry have hired locals.

“We have rescued may Filipinos because they are used for familiarity in the area and for the language barrier,” she said.