POGOs to stay closed as lockdown extended
President Rodrigo Duterte extends Covid-19 lockdown measures in certain parts of the country for another two weeks to May 15.
Philippines.- Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will remain suspended after the government extended Coronavirus quarantine measures until mid-May.
It was strongly hinted last week that POGO operations would resume at the end of April, but those rumours have been quashed at least for the next few weeks.
Over the weekend, Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures in certain parts of the country for another two weeks to May 15.
Regarding POGOs, Presidential Spokesperson, Harry Roque, said: “They still can’t [operate] because these are considered amusement and leisure.
“They are included in the negative list which also bars the reopening of schools, places of worship, industries and tourism.
“We have [the] Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which penalises an individual who violates in this time of crisis,” Roque added.
The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act can impose a one-year imprisonment or a fine ranging from PHP10,000 (US$197) to PHP1 Million (US$19,700) to people who breach quarantine measures.
