The Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines is currently detaining 947 foreign offshore gaming operators (POGO) workers at its detention center in Pasay City. Officials stated that the deportation process is being accelerated, and more illegal workers are expected to be repatriated in the coming days.
Enforcement Actions Limited, Detention Facilities Facing Overload Pressure
Official Casio revealed that due to the detention center being overloaded, the planned enforcement actions against approximately 9,000 illegal POGO workers nationwide have been temporarily postponed. To alleviate the pressure on detention, the government is considering using a building in Pasay City, which is undergoing confiscation procedures, as an additional detention facility to improve the situation.
Monthly Allocation of 2 Million Pesos for Detainees' Basic Needs
The government allocates about 2 million pesos (approximately 260,000 yuan) monthly to provide food and basic medical services for the detainees. Detainees requiring emergency medical treatment, if they can afford it, are sent to private hospitals and are guarded by the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Bureau of Corrections, and private security personnel.
Poor Detention Conditions, Increased Risk of Infectious Diseases
It is understood that some detainees have been diagnosed with diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, AIDS, and respiratory infections. Due to the crowded detention environment, the risk of these diseases spreading has increased, leading to the deterioration of some patients' conditions. Currently, detainees with infectious diseases have been isolated to prevent further spread of the virus. However, PAOCC admits that the conditions in the detention center are concerning, with over 400 detainees urgently hospitalized due to worsening conditions, and some have unfortunately died.
Death Cases Spark Controversy, Government Faces Social Pressure
PAOCC emphasizes that the death cases were not directly caused by the detention environment but were triggered by the detainees' own health conditions. However, this statement has not alleviated concerns from all sectors of society. There is widespread questioning of the management of detention facilities, and calls for the government to take urgent measures to improve the detention environment and accelerate the repatriation of illegal workers to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
