Over 9,000 POGO workers remain at large in PH — PAOCC
Months since POGOs were banned in the country, more than 9,000 former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers remain at large in the Philippines, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Monday.
'So, due to the overcrowding, enforcement actions against the estimated 9,000 — ito po po yung kailangan hulihin natin. These are more than 9,000 illegal foreign workers — have been temporarily suspended,' PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said during the last hearing of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm).
(So, due to the overcrowding, enforcement actions against the estimated 9,000 — these are the ones we need to apprehend — have been temporarily suspended. These are more than 9,000 illegal foreign workers.)
According to Cruz, their operations were temporarily suspended due to overcrowding at the PAOCC's detention facility in Pasay City. He said PAOCC conducted
Cruz said there are currently over 600 foreigners detained at the facility.
'Many detainees still cannot be deported due to missing passports. Ito po 'yung problema natin, sir. 'Yung mga walang passports, because 'yung mga foreign nationals na nagtatrabaho po sa POGO mga tinanggalan po ng passports 'yan at 'yan, pakalat-kalat po ngayon dito sa Pilipinas,' Cruz said.
(Many detainees still cannot be deported due to missing passports. This is our problem, sir. Those without passports, because many of the foreign nationals who worked in POGOs had their passports taken from them, are now scattered all over the Philippines.)
Cruz said the detainees have been diagnosed with tuberculosis, hepatitis B, respiratory infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
'Actually, sir, dito po kami nalulumpo. Just three weeks ago, nagpa-cremate po tayo ng isang HIV victim,' Cruz said.
(Actually, sir, this is where we are paralyzed. Just three weeks ago, we had to cremate an HIV victim.)
PAOCC spends P2 million every month for the detainee's food, healthcare, and medical needs, according to the executive director.
He recommended the creation of a centralized database for monitoring illegal operations and sharing real-time intelligence. He said local government units should also be trained and equipped to detect hidden POGOs following their shift to guerilla operations.
Aside from this, he said the deportation process must also be improved through close coordination with foreign embassies while regional cooperation must be pursued more actively.
'Lastly, a nationwide public information campaign is needed to raise awareness about illegal offshore gaming operations and scam operations. As well as the role of community reporting in stopping these activities,' Cruz said.
'This is not only about removing illegal businesses but also about protecting the country's integrity. ensuring public safety, and demonstrating to the world that the Philippines will not be a safe haven for crime,' he added.
Cruz said authorities arrested 750 foreign nationals in 10 major raids in 2025.
Due to their operations, Cruz said some POGOs moved their operations to the Visayas and Mindanao as well as Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. He said there are also reports that some relocated to Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Republic of Vanuatu.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs in the country effective on July 22, 2024 after raids against illegal POGOs revealed equipment used for torture, love scams, and other crimes. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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