The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) recently reported that there are still 947 foreign workers from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) detained in Pasay, waiting for deportation.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio, in an interview with dzBB radio, mentioned that last Saturday, 29 Indonesian POGO workers were successfully deported, but a large number of foreign nationals are still waiting for the completion of the expulsion process. He revealed that the processing of relevant documents is being expedited, and more personnel are expected to be repatriated to their home countries in the coming days.
As the detention center is nearing capacity, further enforcement actions involving about 9,000 illegal POGO workers nationwide have been temporarily suspended. PAOCC emphasizes that the government strictly adheres to international law and treats detainees with humanitarian principles, ensuring they receive basic medical and living guarantees. Currently, officials provide medical and dental checks weekly, and arrange for those needing additional treatment to go to government hospitals. Additionally, the government allocates 2 million pesos monthly for the food and medical expenses of the detained POGO workers.
Casio revealed that some detainees have been diagnosed with diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, HIV, and respiratory infections. To prevent the spread of diseases, infected individuals have been isolated. Meanwhile, PAOCC allows detainees with better economic conditions to pay for treatment at private hospitals, accompanied by law enforcement and security personnel when necessary.
PAOCC stated that it will continue to accelerate the deportation process, ensure the safety of the detention facility management, and gradually reduce the number of detainees in the coming weeks.
