POGO-related crimes surged in 2022

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippines National Police (PNP) saw a four-fold uptick in its recoded Philippine Online Gaming Offshoring (POGO)-related crimes in 2022.

According to Police Major Gen. Eliseo Cruz, director for Investigation and Detective Management, presented the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drug PNP’s data showing that in 2022 alone, authorities recorded 40 POGO-related crimes — at least four times more than the nine reported in 2019 before the pandemic.

The incidents related to the POGO industry were kidnap for ransom, and illegal detention. 

“POGO-related crimes may increase significantly or even exponentially because the criminal syndicates behind the said crimes will become emboldened by the lack of consequences of their criminal activities,” said Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order president Ka Kuen Chua.

The findings presented by PNP officials at the Senate hearing on the recent abductions allegedly connected to POGO will be part of the committee’s decision on permanently banning POGOs from the country.