The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration says that it is still searching for some 11,000 former foreign Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator employees, saying it is now conducting an “intensified manhunt”.
According to Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, there are still some 11,254 foreign POGO workers that need to be deported, of the original 33,863 POGO employees registered under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
The commissioner indicated that those who had not left the country before the December 31st deadline “are considered illegal aliens […foreign nationals who continue to disobey this will be arrested, deported, and blacklisted. No exceptions”.
Foreign POGO workers had been given the option to leave the country before the deadline or downgrade their visas, with some 22,609 foreign POGO workers leaving the country before the December 31st deadline.
Amongst the total number of registered POGO employees, some 24,779 had downgraded their visas.
The BI head also indicated that companies must surrender any POGO workers who remain in the country and could face charges for harboring illegal aliens if they refuse to do so.
PAOCC warning
On Thursday, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) also warned business owners that they could lose their properties if they allow them to be used by illegal POGO operators.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz told media that criminal forfeiture cases could be opened against owners for allowing them to be used for illegal activities.
Illegal POGO groups have switched to smaller-scale operations, attempting to hide them in walled compounds or even at resorts, as authorities increase their crackdown.
They have also attempted to disguise the prevalence of foreign members by operating in business areas with more foreign footfall and by attempting to operate more during the day than at night.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has also directed local government units (LGUs) to submit “No POGO” certificates in their localities by the end of January.
LGUs can conduct inspections on commercial and residential buildings, including occupancy permits, electric and fire permits, with a DILG official indicating LUGs have “full capacity to enter all the buildings”.
Birth certificate focus
Another avenue to go after those involved in POGOs is to track down fraudulent birth certificates which had been issued to foreigners, allowing them to obtain Filipino citizenship. This then enabled them to purchase properties and set up businesses in the country.
Authorities say they’re now aiming to track down the fraudulent birth certificates and cancel them “so that these criminals will no longer have a basis to stay in the country,” indicated Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has stated that it would be cancel all fraudulent birth certificates of foreigners in the country after the nation-wide POGO ban. The OSG also indicated it would work to seize properties and other assets illegally acquired by foreigners.
