The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) plans to arrest and deport between 9,000 to 10,000 foreigners illegally engaged in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) within a year.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio stated at a press briefing that it is imperative to enforce President Marcos' directive to completely ban POGO. The president had ordered the prohibition of POGO in his 2024 State of the Nation Address and demanded that the related workers voluntarily leave the country by December 31, 2024, as their work visas have been revoked.
According to PAOCC statistics, of the 32,000 POGO workers in the Philippines, over 20,000 have left following the ban. Since January this year, authorities have arrested more than 2,000 individuals and detained about 800 awaiting deportation, but there are still 9,000 to 10,000 remaining in the Philippines illegally.
Since February 13, PAOCC has intensified enforcement, particularly targeting the southern metropolitan area of Manila, especially in Pasay City and Parañaque City, which are close to casinos and are hotspots for POGO workers. Recent operations in Parañaque City's ATI Building resulted in the capture of 147 foreigners, and 101 foreigners were captured at One Wheels Apartments, while another operation at the Unlad Silangan POGO Center involved 401 foreigners engaged in "similar scams."
Casio emphasized that PAOCC will continue to enforce the law vigorously to ensure the full implementation of the president's comprehensive ban. Currently, investigators are determining which arrested individuals will face criminal charges, while others will be swiftly deported.
