Two of the Philippines’ principal law enforcement bodies have formalised a cooperation agreement aimed at dismantling transnational cybercrime networks, with illegal online gambling and offshore gaming operations placed explicitly within the agreement’s scope.
The Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) signed the memorandum of agreement at Camp Crame in Quezon City. The pact establishes a structured framework for joint investigations, digital forensic analysis, case build-up, and enforcement coordination across both agencies.
Coordinated enforcement takes shape
This agreement is a result of a strategic decision to promote inter-agency cooperation in addressing cybercrime categories that have, up to now, been separately handled through different institutional channels. Through this agreement, there is a defined process established between these two institutions, which ranges from evidence gathering to prosecution support.
CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso confirmed that the partnership would allow both agencies to develop cases jointly, combining the CICC’s digital forensics capability with the PAOCC’s enforcement and prosecution coordination infrastructure. PAOCC Executive Director Benjamin Acorda said the cooperation specifically targets organised crime groups that operate through digital platforms, a description that encompasses the illegal online gambling networks Philippine authorities have spent years attempting to suppress.
The legal basis for both agencies’ activities falls under Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which governs investigative and enforcement actions in this space.
Online POGOs remain in the frame
The direct mention of the term “online POGOs,” or the term for the online version of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, is notable. The Philippine government officially prohibited POGO operations in 2024 after several years of controversy regarding the connection of POGOs with organized crime, human trafficking, and financial fraud.
Yet enforcement agencies have continued to detect the operations of networks that are attempting to do so illegally under the previous POGO structure. By mentioning the term “online POGOs,” the agencies have indicated that the enforcement of the MOA will not only include the illegal gambling platforms that have newly appeared but also the illegal POGOs that have continued since the formal closure of the POGO sector.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, which holds regulatory authority over licensed gambling in the country, is not a party to the agreement. The MOA is an enforcement instrument rather than a regulatory one, and its operational scope sits within the cybercrime framework rather than the licensed gambling sector.
Building cases, not just making arrests
The structure of the agreement is also worth noting in terms of what it prioritises. For example, the four operational pillars, joint investigations, digital forensics, case build-up, and enforcement coordination suggest an approach that prioritises building cases rather than taking enforcement actions.
“Case build-up” is a procedural concept in Philippine law enforcement referring to the systematic assembly of evidence sufficient to support prosecution. Including it as a named pillar of the MOA implies both agencies intend to pursue outcomes beyond initial detention or seizure, aiming instead for durable legal action against operators and networks.
In the case of illegal online gambling, this is particularly relevant. In the past, enforcement actions against unlicensed or offshore-facing illegal online gambling sites have had difficulty in turning site take-downs into sustained prosecutions, at least in part because of the technical evidence necessary to prove jurisdiction and individual culpability is often beyond the capabilities of most law enforcement organizations. The involvement of the CICC is meant to fill this capability gap.
Where things stand
For operators and platform providers active in the Philippine market, the practical significance of the agreement lies in its institutional architecture. A formalised cooperation mechanism between the country’s primary anti-organised crime body and its lead cybercrime enforcement agency represents a materially more capable enforcement environment than either body operating independently, particularly for the kind of technically complex, cross-border operations that illegal online gambling networks typically involve.
Be part of the action! Join the world’s biggest iGaming community with SiGMA’s Top 10 News countdown. Subscribe HERE for weekly updates, insider insights, and exclusive subscriber-only offers.
