NCRPO monitoring POGO activities

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has affirmed that it is actively monitoring the activities of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in Metro Manila.

In a recent press conference, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said they created “ReACT POGO,” a program tailored to proactively “look after” POGO operations in the region.

“We launched this program – the Repress Acts of Criminals targeting POGOs, in which we proactively go to these companies and invoke the visitorial power of the police in order to inspect them,” Nartatez said.

“This is to ensure that there are no employees or personalities in the premises who are wanted persons and to ensure that no one is illegally detained,” he added.

Nartatez further explained that the program was formed to curb crimes involving POGO personalities such as kidnapping, serious illegal detention and robbery-extortion, which had previously been the subject of a congressional inquiry.

Apart from this measure, the NCRPO chief said they are closely coordinating with local government units to ensure that the POGO operations are compliant in obtaining business permits and other clearances.