Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175921783458320241031-pogo-raid-bagac-MT-24.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">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</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines has sustained its Tier 1 ranking for the 10th year with the release of the 2025 Trafficking in Persons or TIP Report of the State Department of the United States.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/1/pagcor-approves-p50m-to-deport-illegal-pogo-workers-0938">Pagcor approves P50M to deport illegal POGO workers</a></div><p>In a statement, the Department of Justice said the “momentous milestone” is through the sustained efforts of the government against trafficking of persons under the leadership of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.</p><p>“Its whole-of-nation approach proves how expeditiously the government took proportional concrete actions to combat this grave violation of human rights and dignity,” the DOJ said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TIP REPORT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In the State Department’s TIP Report, the Philippines fully met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking—through investigation, prosecution and conviction of more traffickers, including complicit officials.</p><p>The report also noted the steps of the Philippine government to disrupt industrial-scale human trafficking in online scam operations, including the banning of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator licenses.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-jr-orders-pogos-to-cease-operations-by-end-of-year-1603">Marcos: &#x27;Effective today, all POGOs are banned&#x27;</a></div><p>“The government engaged in anti-trafficking dialogues, cooperated in investigations and prosecutions, and shared information, including intelligence, with foreign governments,” the State Department said.</p><p>The report, however, said the Philippines did not take effective measures to prevent the penalization of potential trafficking victims for unlawful acts committed as a result of being trafficked.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/26/-this-is-for-you-senate-ends-pogo-probe-with-tribute-to-its-victims-1343">&#x27;This is for you&#x27;: Senate ends POGO probe with tribute to its victims</a></div><p>“Corruption and official complicity in trafficking remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year,” the State Department said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RECOMMENDATION</strong></div><div> </div><p>The State Department recommended that the Philippine government increase its efforts in identifying and assisting labor trafficking victims, among others.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/4/hontiveros-warns-vs-evil-elements-left-behind-by-pogos-1859">Hontiveros warns vs &#x27;evil elements&#x27; left behind by POGOs</a></div><p>The DOJ assured that there is no complacency in the country’s justice system as it vows to continue the fight for Filipinos who are vulnerable, abused and exploited.</p><p>“In expressing sustained commitment to combat trafficking in persons despite ranking as Tier 1 for 10 consecutive years, the Philippine government reaffirms that this is not just a legal mandate, it is a shared moral obligation to protect our most vulnerable from abuse and exploitation,” the DOJ said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hoa49lhfcXU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6BbJY-Pntgk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>In the State Department’s TIP Report, the Philippines fully met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking—through investigation, prosecution and conviction of more traffickers, including complicit officials.</p>

In the State Department’s TIP Report, the Philippines fully met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking—through investigation, prosecution and conviction of more traffickers, including complicit officials.

Anti-POGO efforts helped PH sustain Tier 1 ranking in US anti-trafficking report

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Anti-POGO efforts helped PH sustain Tier 1 ranking in US anti-trafficking report

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 30, 2025 03:41 PM PHT

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