The Philippines’ Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has requested the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to assist in facilitating the return of foreign workers employed by discontinued Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
According to PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio, despite the ongoing POGO ban, 38 POGOs remain legally operational in the Philippines.
Foreign workers from these operators were given a deadline of October 15th to downgrade their working visas to tourist visas, with a requirement to leave the country by the end of the year.
As stated in the ban order announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July during his third State of the Nation Address, all POGO operations need to be wound down by the end of the year.
Casio emphasized the need for collaboration among various agencies, particularly with PAGCOR, to ensure that POGO workers leave the country promptly. He expressed concern that if these workers remain, many may seek to go underground and work illegally.
He noted that the longer these individuals are allowed to stay, the greater the likelihood they will find ways to remain in the country. Casio mentioned the existence of regulatory loopholes in the gambling sector and appealed for adherence to the President’s directive to fully eliminate POGOs.
In a recent report, the Bureau of Immigration stated that over 12,000 foreign workers from discontinued POGOs have applied to downgrade their working visas. This number is less than half of the 30,000 foreign workers previously employed by POGOs.
In addition, Casio warned that there may still be more than 100 illegal POGO hubs operating underground throughout the country.
The National Bureau of Investigation has indicated that some POGOs are circumventing the ban by breaking into smaller groups and establishing operations in residential areas to evade detection. Casio reiterated the urgency for these foreign POGO workers to leave the Philippines, as they no longer possess valid working visas.
