Skip to the newsroom
Moving headlines
Philippine Peso Closes at Record Low of ₱61.888 as BSP Raises Policy Rate to 5%DAR Says ₱57.76 Billion in Agrarian Reform Debt Condoned Under RA 11953GSIS Earmarks Nearly ₱4.4 Billion in Emergency Loans for 166,789 Members and PensionersPAGASA: LPA Inside PAR May Become 'Pilandok' as Habagat Rain Risk BuildsPAF Completes 32-Helicopter Black Hawk Acquisition with Final Seven AircraftSenate Panel Backs Bill Setting 16 as Minimum Age for Social MediaPhilippine Peso Closes at Record Low of ₱61.888 as BSP Raises Policy Rate to 5%DAR Says ₱57.76 Billion in Agrarian Reform Debt Condoned Under RA 11953GSIS Earmarks Nearly ₱4.4 Billion in Emergency Loans for 166,789 Members and PensionersPAGASA: LPA Inside PAR May Become 'Pilandok' as Habagat Rain Risk BuildsPAF Completes 32-Helicopter Black Hawk Acquisition with Final Seven AircraftSenate Panel Backs Bill Setting 16 as Minimum Age for Social Media
Philippine time
FMB NewsFilipino Media Bulletin
Back to headlinesAugust 21, 2026, 1:00 PM PHT

Taxation · Law Enforcement

BIR Files ₱2.23-Billion Tax Case Against Hongsheng Gaming Technology

Revenue authorities filed a multibillion-peso tax case against the offshore gaming operator as the government continues enforcement against former POGO entities.

By FMB News DeskPublished August 21, 2026, 1:00 PM PHT2 min read
FMB News editorial visual for the BIR Hongsheng tax caseFMB News editorial visual
FMB News editorial visual accompanying the BIR tax-enforcement report.FMB News editorial visualLicense details

Why this matters to Filipinos

FMB News connects the verified facts and evidence in this report to the decisions, costs, opportunities, and risks that may affect Filipinos, Philippine communities, and the country.

Editorial standard: Sources are listed below. Verified reporting, attributed claims, uncertainty, and analysis remain distinct.

Verified facts

What happened

The Bureau of Internal Revenue filed a tax evasion case worth about ₱2.23 billion against Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., an offshore gaming operator associated with the Bamban, Tarlac POGO compound.

The approved FMB News brief places the complaint before the Department of Justice and says the assessment covers alleged unpaid taxes and related liabilities. Contemporary reporting independently corroborates a BIR case of approximately ₱2.23 billion against Hongsheng.

Context

Context

Offshore gaming operations have been banned in the Philippines, but closure does not erase outstanding tax liabilities. BIR Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 13-2026 states that former POGOs and related entities remain liable for taxes, duties, regulatory fees and other charges up to their last day of operations and may still be audited.

Filipino relevance

Why this matters

The filing tests the government's ability to recover tax liabilities from companies linked to the now-banned offshore gaming sector and to pursue corporate officers where the law allows.

What to watch next

What to watch next

The next step is the Justice Department's evaluation of the complaint and any preliminary investigation. A tax complaint is an allegation and does not by itself establish criminal liability.

Sources and public record

Bureau of Internal Revenue: Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 13-2026 (February 27, 2026, 12:00 AM PHT)FMB News approved editorial brief: BIR Files ₱2.228-Billion Criminal Tax Evasion Complaint Against Bamban POGO Hub Hongsheng (August 21, 2026, 1:00 PM PHT)