Around 190 POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming) employees will be deported back to China on Thursday, less than a month before the implementation of a total ” target=”_blank”>ban by the end of the year.
The workers are from various POGO hubs raided by authorities—122 from 3D Analyzer in Pasay, 57 from Tourist Garden Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu and 11 from Zun Yuan Technology in Bamban, Tarlac, SmartWeb Technology in Pasay and Clark, Pampanga.
They will be deported for violating Philippine immigration laws.
“Yung iba dito talagang walang dokumento nung nahuli natin. Violation nga ito nung kanilang condition of stay,” PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said.
Upon arrival in China, the POGO workers will be subjected to investigation for possible involvement in online scamming activities.
“Sa China kasi they are all treated hindi victims but criminals. So, it’s up to them to prove kung sila talaga ay nagparticipate sa scamming activities. Sila ba ay kasama sa sindikato ng POGO?” Cruz added.
Monitoring
PAOCC also reminded POGO workers still in the country to voluntarily leave before the December 31 deadline.
Come January, the government will launch intensified operations against illegal POGOS.
“May monitoring na kami, may listahan na kami. Ang law enforcement agencies like the NBI, the PNP and the Bureau of Immigration ay nagsama-sama na po kami para bumuo ng isang malakas na grupo para po tugisin itong mga natitirang POGO operators,” Cruz said.
Earlier, the Bureau of Immigration said that only 21,757 foreign POGO workers voluntarily downgraded their 9G visas to tourist visas last October.
Of which, a total of 10,821 have already left the country.
In his State of the Nation Address last July, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced the banning of POGOs.
Last November, the President signed Executive Order 74 ordering the ban on POGOs, internet gaming licenses, and other offshore gaming operations in the country.
Filipina partners
Meanwhile, wives and partners of some deportees took their chance to bid farewell to their loved ones outside the PAOCC Detention Facility in Pasay.
Maria (not her real name), 22, married her husband one month before he was arrested in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu in September.
She said they were on their honeymoon in the resort where the raid happened.
“Ang unfair lang po kasi nila. Yung mga chinese na hindi nagtratrabaho sa POGO nadadamay. Kabilang ‘yung asawa ko,” she said.
Maria plans to follow her husband in China.
Earlier, PAOCC revealed that they are supporting 15 babies born to foreign fathers deported for POGO involvement.
Aside from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), PAOCC is now coordinating with the Chinese Embassy in the country for the welfare of the children.
“Kino-coordinate namin sa Chinese Embassy. Yun kasi yung problema natin, ano ba yung magiging status ng mga bata dito?” Cruz said.
“Pwede bang gamitin yung pangalan ng tatay nya? Pwede bang ilagay yan sa kanilang mga birth certificate? Hindi pa namin alam kung ano yung magiging status nila pagdating sa mga dokumento dito sa Pilipinas.” he added.
PAOCC has been extending help to the children in terms of food, diapers and even payment of rental expenses.
–VAL, GMA Integrated News
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