The Philippines’ Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has urgently called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to help speed up the departure of foreign employees from shuttered Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). PAOCC emphasizes the need for swift agency collaboration to enforce the government’s closure orders.
Despite the ongoing ban, PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio pointed out that 38 POGOs still legally operate in the country. Moreover, many foreign workers remain employed at these operators, raising concerns about enforcement gaps.
The government set an October 15th deadline for these foreign workers to downgrade their working visas to tourist visas. They must then exit the country by the end of the year. This timeline aligns with the closure order President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced during his July State of the Nation Address. The order clearly states that all POGO operations must fully cease by year-end.
Casio stressed that agencies must work closely, especially PAGCOR, to ensure POGO workers leave on time. Otherwise, he warned, many workers could go underground and continue working illegally. He strongly urged strict enforcement of the President’s directive. Without it, regulatory loopholes could allow POGOs to operate covertly.
Furthermore, Casio warned that the longer foreign workers stay, the more likely they will find ways to remain illegally. The Bureau of Immigration recently reported that over 12,000 foreign workers from closed POGOs applied to downgrade their visas. However, this number accounts for less than half of the estimated 30,000 POGO employees.
Additionally, Casio cautioned that over 100 illegal POGO hubs might still operate secretly across the Philippines. The National Bureau of Investigation has uncovered tactics some POGOs use to avoid the ban. For example, they split into smaller groups and move operations into residential areas. This strategy helps them evade detection.
In conclusion, Casio highlighted the urgent need for foreign POGO workers to leave the country immediately. He pointed out that they no longer hold valid work visas, so their continued presence undermines law enforcement efforts. Coordinated action among all agencies remains essential to fully shut down POGO operations nationwide.
