The Philippine government continues to crack down on illegal offshore gambling (POGO), but faces significant obstacles in deporting foreign illegal workers. Deputy Minister Gilbert Cruz of the President's Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) recently revealed in a congressional hearing that despite the shutdown of several large illegal gambling centers, over 9,000 undocumented foreign workers remain in the country, posing a security risk.
Cruz pointed out that these foreign workers are mostly involved in illegal gambling and online fraud, and some suffer from infectious diseases, making deportation difficult due to lack of passports and identity proofs. Each month, the government spends nearly 2 million pesos for their basic living expenses. More problematic is that some embassies of the workers' countries of origin in the Philippines refuse to accept these "stateless" individuals, causing the deportation efforts to stall.
Currently, illegal POGO operations are gradually shifting from large facilities to dispersed areas such as residential buildings, apartments, and hotels, increasing the difficulty of law enforcement. Some operators have even moved their businesses to the southern Philippines or other Southeast Asian countries, disguising themselves as technology or outsourcing companies to evade regulation.
Deputy Speaker of the Congress Suarez warned that illegal POGO has changed its form but not its essence, with cases of kidnapping, fraud, and human trafficking coming to light. He called on the government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and mobilize local units to cooperate actively.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of the Interior has issued a memorandum requiring local governments to intensify inspections and share information with the police. To date, 89 foreign nationals involved have been successfully deported, and law enforcement agencies promise to continue the crackdown, strengthen international cooperation, and curb the security risks posed by illegal gambling.
