The National Bureau of Investigation of the Philippines recently investigated the illegal transfer of farmland in Bataan Province, which appears to be an event of farmers' rights protection but actually unveils the multi-layered dark curtain of the Philippines' billion-dollar offshore gaming grey industry, top political skirmishes, and Indo-Pacific geopolitical games. A piece of farmland, strictly protected by land ownership certification, was quietly transferred to a private company deeply involved in the POGO business, closely related to Harry Roque, a core direct descendant of former President Duterte, without approval from the Department of Land Reform. Plainly speaking, this is not a land dispute, but a precise "political hunt" by Marcos Jr. against the Duterte faction. Want to know the power struggles behind the Philippine gaming industry? PASA official website keeps you updated.
Behind the farmland case: From "farmers' rights protection" to "political purge"
Currently, 15 to 20 farmers holding sworn statements have filed complaints with the NBI. The investigation found that the land transfer involved forged documents and never received legal approval. The NBI, as the sharpest political weapon in the hands of the president, always targets those the ruling power wants to eliminate. The political honeymoon between Marcos Jr. and the Duterte family has already shattered, with the Duterte faction still holding a significant number of key seats in Congress, and Roque being a strong contender in the 2028 presidential election. The POGO industry, precisely, has been a "cash cow" operated by the Duterte faction for years—Roque is the core broker between these POGO companies and the Duterte government. This NBI move is essentially using the pretext of "illegal land occupation" to first take down the POGO financiers of the Duterte faction, then tie Roque to "illegal occupation and document forgery," complete the media lynching, and finally trace and purge the remaining Duterte forces.
Golden plot: The intersection of aristocratic interests and geopolitical games
The land in question is located near Manila Bay, facing the US military base in Subic Bay across the sea, covering the Bataan Freeport Zone and the western economic corridor of Luzon Island, a prime spot for future real estate and industrial logistics. A piece of farmland converted to commercial land can skyrocket in value by dozens or even hundreds of times. Over 70% of the premium land is held by less than 20 traditional aristocratic families such as Marcos and Aquino. This POGO company with Chinese backing bypassed the local aristocracy and directly dealt with farmers, equivalent to stealing food from the mouth of the aristocracy, violating the survival bottom line of Philippine land monopoly. More fatally, the US sees Chinese-backed POGO as a "white glove of intelligence infiltration," repeatedly pressuring the Marcos Jr. government to clear POGO forces around the EDCA base. This investigation is precisely the geopolitical credential Marcos Jr. handed to the US—clearing Chinese-backed POGO around the US military base, eliminating a major concern for the US, and responding to China's concerns about combating telecom fraud and money laundering, killing three birds with one stone.
Ultimate goal: "Changing masters" in the POGO industry
Marcos Jr.'s real target is to complete the ultimate reshuffle of the POGO industry. During Duterte's era, this grey industry with annual turnover exceeding ten billion US dollars continuously delivered benefits to the Duterte faction. Now, Marcos Jr., under the guise of "illegal transactions," is clearing out POGO companies tied to the Duterte faction, issuing scarce licenses to enterprises directly affiliated with the Marcos family, and monopolizing the industry. The outcome of the case has already been written: the involved POGO companies will be heavily fined and cleared out, Roque will be dragged through the mud by public opinion, and the Duterte faction will be further dismembered, with the golden plot of Bataan province flowing into the hands of Marcos-related aristocracy. And those farmers holding testimonies will most likely never get their land back—they are just disposable pawns in this top-level game. As the Marcos family takes full control of the billion-dollar grey industry, the wild growth era of the POGO industry will come to an end, and only top-tier aristocratic-backed players will survive. Want to know the latest updates on the Philippine POGO industry reshuffle? PASA official website keeps you updated.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader," a gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
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