Authorities in the Philippines are urging the public to provide information on POGO firms that have gone “underground” after the recent announcement of the ban on offshore gaming operators under the regulator PAGCOR.
According to the nation’s news agency, government representatives urge the public to use social media platforms or report to local government, immigration or law enforcement to ‘flush out and deport’ foreign workers of POGOs.
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers on Wednesday specifically mentioned Chinese nationals, noting that “we all know that a number of them, who have pending criminal cases from their countries of origin, are still in the country and would rather stay and hide here than face the risk of being deported and punished at home”.
The official furthered: “We know that many of them would now or later go underground and operate on small scales. But let us not allow these illegal online gambling firms, their owners and workers, to induce and corrupt our local and national authorities to turn a blind eye with the use of their laundered money”.
He also pushed for help to “identify and/or unmask […] POGO enablers, some of whom may again find new and huge financial opportunities by hiding, protecting and coddling all POGO personalities that are subjects of the ban”.
Foreign POGO workers have been given until September 24th to voluntarily leave the Philippines or face deportation. No exemptions are to be granted, even for those with families and children in the country.
The nation’s Bureau of Immigration says it has instructed approximately 20,000 foreign workers, the majority of whom are Chinese nationals, to leave the nation.
Another raid on a suspected illegal POGO operation in Pampanga province was carried out on Tuesday, with authorities saying two Chinese nationals were detained and 13 Chinese nationals were ‘rescued’.
The suspects face charges under the anti-trafficking in persons act. The victims will be deported and prohibited from entering the Philippines, if authorities follow their previous modus operandi.
