Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on June 26 issued a strong call for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to comprehensively crackdown on scam groups that were formerly breeding grounds for POGO (offshore gaming) and have now transitioned to localized operations. He pointed out that although the POGO industry appears to be being clamped down on, the techniques, manpower, and scam patterns it cultivated have taken root domestically, now forming a crime network centered around Filipinos, posing a profound threat to national security.
Sherwin Gatchalian stated that according to the latest police data, the majority of the suspects in online scams are Filipinos, many of whom have undergone systematic training in POGO institutions, including scripting, fake customer service skills, and psychological manipulation. "We warned from the beginning, allowing POGO would only breed our own enemies. Now, Filipinos are scamming Filipinos, and it's happening nationwide."
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group also publicly acknowledged this week that many of the suspects indeed have a POGO background. As foreign masterminds withdraw, the scam groups are gradually becoming "localized gangs," better understanding social media operations and the psychology of local victims, making it increasingly difficult for the police to solve these crimes.
As one of the leaders of the "Anti-POGO Bill," Sherwin Gatchalian emphasized that the goal is not to target ordinary workers but to completely sever this system that cultivates crime and undermines the rule of law. Currently, the bill has passed three readings in the Senate and is awaiting deliberation in the House of Representatives.
He urged the new leadership of the PNP not to just focus on superficial crackdowns but to trace the roots and completely destroy these POGO remnants that have transformed into local scam gangs. "Only by cutting off the roots of this dark industry can Philippine society truly regain clarity."
