Justice chief to POGO ‘alien’ workers: Submit already to authorities

Metro Manila, Philippines - Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla called on the remaining thousands of illegal offshore gaming firm workers to submit to authorities as the government’s crackdown stretched to five days after the Dec. 31 deadline.

If not, the workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) would “face severe legal consequences such as permanent blacklisting and other sanctions” as they were deemed illegal aliens, the Department of Justice said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 5.

So far, around 11,000 foreign POGO workers are set for deportation after failing to leave the country last year, with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) conducting “extensive manhunt operations” against them.

The BI said 22,609 have already departed the country.

“The president is unequivocally clear that POGOs have no place here in the Philippines and we vow to give our all-out support for the sake and welfare of the Filipino people,” Remulla said.

“This administration stands firm in its resolve to [intensify] its guerilla operations against non-compliant POGOs,” he said.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the total POGO ban in his third State of the Nation Address in July, last year, amid controversial issues, including money laundering and human trafficking, mired the industry since its start. The executive order came in November. 

The Department of Labor and Employment earlier said nearly 41,000 Filipino workers were affected by the POGO ban, but assured they would be offered government services to find employment opportunities.