Since it is 2025, there ought to be no more Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) here in the country, following the declaration of the president that POGO operations must cease by end of 2024.
This isn’t certain yet. However, what is certain is that an estimated 11,000 foreigners who used to work in POGO operations here are still in the Philippines, according to the Bureau of Immigration.
BI spokeswoman Dana Sandoval said 22,609 out of 33,863 POGO workers have already downgraded their visas and left the country, this leaves more than 11,000 who are still here and are now considered “illegal aliens”.
Needless to say these 11,000 must be found quickly and returned to their country of origin.
There are those who must be found because they are likely to again engage in criminal enterprises. These are the foreigners who came here willingly and with the intent to set up an operation victimizing people both in and out of the country. We are willing to bet --pun intended for POGOs-- that many of them still have enough connections and resources to set up their criminal shop in another form.
They aren’t welcome here. We already have enough local criminals in the country and certainly don’t need any more.
And then there are those who must be found because they are vulnerable. We have said time and again regarding such individuals that they are victims too. Many of those who worked in POGOs actually had no choice; they were trafficked here by syndicates the same way many Filipinos are trafficked abroad to work in sweatshops or even activities similar to POGOs.
It is also possible that they are still being held against their will, the same way criminal syndicates “detain” the Filipinos they traffic by seizing their passports, giving threats, intimidation, or other methods.
This particular group is scared; they don’t know whom to turn to after being victimized perhaps more than once. They may not even speak enough English to communicate the predicament they are in. They need help.
Again, how we treat such victims may reflect on how our countrymen in similar situations are treated abroad.