Camille Naredo

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) along Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31,2024 alleged to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) along Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 
raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31,2024 alleged to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. 

Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

POGO-HUB

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174945578413620241031-pogo-raid-bagac-MT-08.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) along Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31,2024 alleged to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) along Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) raid a BPO compound in Bagac, Bataan on October 31,2024 alleged to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), following a search warrant for human trafficking violations. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA – Lawmakers urged national government agencies to go after the thousands of undocumented foreign workers still at large in the country, months after the closure of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).  During the 15th and final hearing of the House Quad Committee on Monday, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said over 9,000 illegal POGO workers are still in the country.  &quot;Due to the overcrowding, enforcement actions against the estimated 9,000, more than 9,000 illegal foreign workers have been temporarily suspended. Many detainees cannot be deported due to missing passports,&quot; he said. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/9/at-least-9-000-chinese-pogo-workers-still-in-ph-paocc-1545">READ: At least 9,000 Chinese POGO workers still in PH: PAOCC</a></div>Cruz said the crackdown on illegal POGO workers &#x27;strained&#x27; government resources, adding that over 640 foreign nationals are at the PAOCC detention facility in Pasay.  The PAOCC official explained they spend P2 million per month on food and healthcare, with detainees being diagnosed with tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and HIV.  &quot;Yung mga foreign nationals na nagtrabaho sa POGO, mga tinanggalan ng passports yan. At yan mga pakalat-kalat po yan sa Pilipinas. Yung mga public charged, tayo po ang ano, kasi wala silang passport. Marami ang pakalat-kalat na public charged,&quot; he said.Cruz earlier admitted to lawmakers that enforcement has been more difficult since the operations of POGO hubs have been evolving. &quot;Enforcement has become more challenging as large POGO hubs have been replaced by guerilla setups. These are small scale POGO operations operating within condominiums, hotels and gated subdivisions,&quot; he said. &quot;To avoid the ban, some POGO operators moved their operations to other regions in the country, particularly Visayas and Mindanao. Others left the country and resumed operations in countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos,&quot; Cruz added.The PAOCC official said operations also move to nations with &#x27;weaker&#x27; gaming laws like Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and Republic of Vanuatu. &quot;Underground POGO activities are tied with wider criminal networks... Many now operate under the disguise of BPOs or tech firms using technology to run efficiently with fewer staff and less physical infrastructure,&quot; Cruz said.He said small-scale POGO operations do not get permits so they can work in secrecy.  <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/5/89-foreigners-linked-to-pogo-scam-hubs-deported-1032">READ: 89 foreigners linked to POGO, scam hubs deported</a></div>&quot;This year has been made more difficult for law enforcement agencies, these operations are often embedded in legitimate looking businesses and identifying them requires effective coordination, enhanced surveillance tools and cooperation of local communities,&quot; Cruz said. &quot;That&#x27;s the importance ng participation ng local government units kasi permits being applied for before here are permits from the local government,&quot; he pointed out.Cruz said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memorandum directing local government units to report suspicious activities and coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP).  But lawmakers questioned why government agencies are not doing more to send back these foreign nationals to their own countries. House Deputy Speaker Rep. David Suarez expressed concern over the foreign nationals who remain in the country, asking PAOCC if they can track their whereabouts. &quot;Hirap ho talaga tayo. We are only informed na may foreign nationals na nakakalat pag may tawag, may report sa amin. Or minsan pumupunta sa opisina namin para sumuko.  Kasi wala silang passport, wala silang malapitan. Tinataboy sila ng embassy kasi wala silang passport so sa amin sila magpapa-ampon. And we are the ones who coordinate sa embassy para tulungan sila,&quot; Cruz responded. &quot;Huwag natin kakalimutan na ang pinagmulan at dahilan kung bakit sila nandito ay para magpatakbo ng aktibidades na cinoconsider nating illegal: phishing, scamming, torturing,&quot; Suarez said. &quot;Now that we have shut them down, we find them loose in our communities, loose in our societies. Kung iligal ang alam nilang gawin, iligal din ang gagawin pag sila po ay nakakalabas,&quot; he added.  Suarez asked PAOCC to confirm reports that recent kidnapping activities are related to POGO operations. &quot;Yes mister chairman. Yun po yung lumalabas sa investigation namin. Those who were involved in kidnapping cases na nai-report sa Philippine National Police, karamihan ay POGO workers po,&quot; Cruz said. The House Deputy Speaker expressed alarm over the spread of illegal foreign workers. &quot;Nagbabago lang po ng anyo ang POGO, pero iligal parin ang pinapasukan nila at nagiging salot po sila sa ating lipunan. Kaya po napakahalaga para po sa akin mister chair, itong mga undocumented, nakakalat sana po may paraan na ginagawa ang ating ahensya nalalaman natin kung nasaan sila, we&#x27;re properly monitoring activities, proper mechanisms are set in motion and are in place to ensure hindi sila pagmumulan ng problema sa ating komunidad,&quot; Suarez said. &quot;Ang lumalabas, mister chair, a new problem was created because of the shutdown. Now we have the spread of illegal individuals, creating or leading to illegal activities in our society. I think this is a grave concern for our government,&quot; he added. Cruz said they have mechanisms in place but not widespread and intensive. Suarez suggested more resources and more budget be provided to law enforcement and other agencies involved in the operations of illegal foreign workers. &quot;Kung kakausapin at maglalabas ng direct order yung DILG, atasan yung mayors at mga kapitan.... that is one clear way to prevent any form of possible illegal activities that may happen by &quot;illegal aliens&quot; simply because we are monitoring them,&quot; he also proposed. House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson Rep. Dan Fernandez suggested property owners also be held responsible. The PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said no property lessors have been charged, while PAOCC said they are looking at a template to include property owners in cases. Fernandez also proposed a policy under PAOCC to streamline the issuance of documents to encourage POGO workers and victims to surrender.  Department of Foreign Affairs Visa Division Director Leilani Feliciano said they coordinate closely with the diplomatic missions on this matter.  &quot;If the concerned government agency communicated with us, whether distressed or in this case has committed crimes, we can and we will coordinate with the diplomatic mission in the Philippines so that they may issue the emergency travel document para makabalik sila sa country if foreign government wishes to receive them,&quot; Feliciano added. Last November 2024, Marcos Jr. ordered an immediate ban against all POGOs in the country. By December of the same year, POGOs are expected to wrap up operations.

The PAOCC official explained they spend P2 million per month on food and healthcare, with detainees being diagnosed with tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and HIV.

The PAOCC official explained they spend P2 million per month on food and healthcare, with detainees being diagnosed with tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and HIV.

Crackdown on illegal POGO workers 'strained' gov't resources: PAOCC

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Crackdown on illegal POGO workers 'strained' gov't resources: PAOCC

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 09, 2025 03:58 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

Quad Committee

Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators

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Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission

PAOCC

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