APECO President and CEO Atty. Gil G. Taway IV said the new law institutionalizes the nationwide ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and revokes the authority of special economic zones, freeport authorities, and investment promotion agencies including APECO to issue licenses or permits to POGOs and their service providers.

Atty. Taway said the new law strengthens government efforts to eliminate offshore gaming operations and rescinds the authority previously granted to special economic zones, freeport authorities, and investment promotion agencies including APECO, to issue licenses, permits, or accreditations to POGOs, their content providers, and service providers.

“Since I assumed office in October 2023, our management has made it a priority to align APECO’s operations with this policy direction. We immediately launched a comprehensive audit of all existing POGO-related entities within the zone,” Taway said.

During the audit, APECO discovered a POGO locator operating not only within the ecozone but also inside the APECO Administration Building. Facilities that were originally registered for tourism were found to be housing foreign POGO workers.

Following President Marcos’ 2024 State of the Nation Address, in which he announced a total POGO ban, APECO promptly began phasing out the lone POGO locator operating in its area.

Taway also welcomed the cancellation of work permits and visas connected to POGO operations, emphasizing that under the new law, all such permits are now automatically revoked.

He explained that while APECO’s charter allows the issuance of Investor’s Visas to qualified foreign investors, the new management had already suspended visa issuances in November 2023 to review all previously granted visas and work permits. In July 2024, the APECO Board approved the Revised Report and Recommendation on Visa Operations, which included the cancellation of Resident Visas linked to POGO activities.

“The process of cleansing and reforming the zone was neither simple nor easy, but it was necessary,” Taway said. “APECO has since redirected its focus toward developing the ecozone as a national defense hub, clean energy center, Fishing Capital of the Pacific, and a frontier for sustainable tourism.”

APECO, he added, is now prioritizing investments that generate local jobs, promote regional growth, and uphold ethical business practices.

Taway thanked President Marcos and lawmakers for passing the landmark reform, saying it restores integrity to the country’s investment promotion framework and protects the Philippines from the illicit activities linked to offshore gaming.

“President Marcos’ institutionalization of the POGO ban validates the direction we have taken. It sends a strong message that economic zones must be sanctuaries for responsible investment—not safe havens for questionable operations,” he concluded.

Under this new governance framework, APECO pledges to continue promoting accountability, lawful enterprise, and inclusive growth.

The Philippines has accepted Ukraine’s invitation to attend the inaugural Global Peace Summit in Lucerne, Switzerland in June, it was learned Monday.

In an unannounced first visit to the Philippines, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. early Monday morning in Malacañang Palace and personally extended the invitation.

“President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to President Marcos for the decision to participate in the Global Peace Summit. We can confirm that the Philippines will participate in the Summit,” said Denys Mykhailiuk, Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia who accompanied Zelenskyy to the Philippines.

Aside from the inaugural Summit and the importance of Southeast Asian countries being represented there, the two heads of state also talked about bilateral cooperation, particularly Ukrainian agricultural exports to the Philippines.

Zelenskyy arrived in Manila late Sunday evening from Singapore, where he attended the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Marcos delivered the keynote address at the Dialogue, highlighting the importance of a rules-based order in the Philippines’ engagement with an aggressive China in the South China Sea.

Last week, the Ukraine leader elected president in 2019 flew in to Southeast Asia just as his country faced nonstop assault from Russia.

At the same Singapore dialogue, Zelenskyy accused both Russia and China of trying to undermine the Global Peace Summit. He urged world leaders to join the Summit for a unified strategy in ending Russia’s increased aggression against Ukraine.

More than 80 countries have heeded Zelenskyy’s call, among them Swiss President Viola Amherd.