An executive from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on Wednesday confirmed that no Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) exist in the Freeport, following raids of illegal POGOs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.
Based on records, the license of Tele Empire Inc. – which occupied the former Legenda Hotel inside this Freeport and now operates as a BPO (business process outsourcing) firm – was revoked following the raids at Hongsheng Gaming Technology in Bamban and Lucky South 99 in Porac.
This was bared by SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business Atty. John Aquino during the July edition of the Pampanga Press Club’s KapiHann held at Swissotel, Clark.
Aquino said, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has ordered a cease and desist order for the closure of Tele Empire following the revocation of the license to operate.
“PAGCOR has revoked their license and consequent to that, they were advised to pre-terminate their contract of lease with their sub-lessor, and then a cease and desist order was issued,” he said.
Tele Empire was the last POGO with 254 employees in Subic which was closed down. In 2020, four POGOs closed down due to financial losses brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
