The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sunday, January 5, said foreign workers employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) would be permanently blacklisted if they won’t surrender to authorities.
In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Marcos administration is intensifying its guerilla operations against non-compliant POGOs.
“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.
Data from the Bureau of Immigration showed that 22,609 out of 33,863 foreign POGO workers have already departed from the Philippines.
This indicates that approximately 11,000 foreign POGO workers are still in the country.
In July 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a nationwide ban on POGOs following their involvement in numerous crimes, including human trafficking, illegal detention, and financial scams.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) also declared that all POGO operations in the country would cease by the end of 2024. (TCSP)
