At a news forum, CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos mentioned that they have been tracking the number of Chinese or other foreign POGO workers leaving the country.
He added, "Every month, a large number of foreign registered workers or individuals operate using different methods, conducting guerrilla activities underground."
While tracking all these individuals may not be easy, Ramos believes that with the joint efforts of the Chinese International Criminal Court and other law enforcement agencies, the task can be accomplished.
He stated that they will continue to coordinate with foreign counterparts.
"We are coordinating with governments around the world to prevent these fraud groups from being shut down and to stop them from taking further actions," Ramos pointed out. According to CICC, the government has already filed lawsuits against some individuals or groups behind multiple scam centers, which have been raided in different regions of the country.
However, Ramos noted that the Department of Justice (DOJ) still has many cases pending.
"What is the problem we encounter? They solve it themselves, they solve it themselves? So the fastest way to clear them out is to expel them," he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address in July, ordered the ban of all POGOs due to their involvement in criminal activities. He directed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to "shut down and cease the operations of online gaming companies by the end of this year."
Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the most outspoken critics of online gaming companies, expressed relief at the president's directive at the time. However, in September, Hontiveros pointed out that online gaming companies were still operating "underground." She called on law enforcement agencies to strengthen the enforcement of the president's ban.
Hontiveros said, "Unfortunately, despite the ban, online gaming companies continue their underground activities, so I urge our law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts and fully enforce the president's ban."
