The Philippines’ Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has been formalising cooperation with a number of public agencies including the country’s casino regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor).
The effort is part of a drive against offences such as unlicensed online gambling, including illicit operations serving overseas markets.
The Philippine News Agency, an official state outlet, reported on Monday about one of the latest partnership agreements involving CICC and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
The CICC said in a statement: “Authorities are urged to exercise extreme vigilance to apprehend the threat actors that are now pooling resources to execute cybercrimes, including operating POGO hubs and illegal online gambling.”
The latter was a reference to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). That used to be a regulated category of business under Pagcor licensing, but such legal licensing was phased out by December 2024.
The PAOCC is described by the Philippine News Agency as the country’s “focal agency” for investigation and prosecution of organised crime.
The CICC will assist with digital forensics and lead the blocking of illicit gambling websites and content, according to a statement sent to the news agency.
“CICC is mandated… to establish a case build-up against and prosecution of, organised crime groups,” said Aya Macalma, the CICC’s head of communications, as cited in the report.
The CICC noted in its statement: “This partnership proclaims CICC and PAOCC’s commitment to spearheading the abolition of illegal online practices nationwide, persisting with the goal of purging the digital landscape and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” in order to achieve “a reputable and guarded online environment.”
On March 4, the CICC had announced a partnership with a civil action group called Digital Pinoys, regarding what the Philippine News Agency reported as a “month-long documentation and verification of illegal gambling sites, applications, and their promoters as part of criminal and administrative cases to be filed by government authorities”.
