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Regulatory · Philippines · Sat 22 Aug · 3 min read

BIR files PHP2.2B POGO tax case, chases $36M from Hongsheng

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What happened

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed a PHP 2.228 billion tax evasion case against a POGO operator, and separately issued a demand for US$36 million in unpaid taxes from Hongsheng Gaming. Hongsheng is directly linked to Alice Guo, the former Bamban mayor who fled the Philippines in 2024 amid a Senate investigation into POGO-related crimes and possible foreign interference.

These are two distinct enforcement actions running simultaneously. The PHP 2.228 billion case is a formal tax evasion filing, meaning criminal charges, not just a civil assessment. The Hongsheng demand is a tax deficiency claim targeting an operator whose principals are either fugitive or under investigation.

The BIR is not acting alone. These moves follow earlier work by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the Senate blue ribbon committee, and PAGCOR's own revocation of POGO licenses across the board in 2024. Tax recovery is now the next institutional phase.

Why it matters

Sources: Inside Asian Gaming

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