Senator Urges Immigration to Combat Illegal POGOs

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is being urged by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian to increase its efforts in preventing foreign nationals engaged in illegal POGO operations from entering the nation.

Gatchalian highlights the BI’s crucial role as the first line of defense against criminal forces looking to take advantage of the nation’s regulatory flaws, citing worries expressed by Business World.

He emphasizes how these people travel between POGO companies with unsettling ease, skirting immigration laws with no repercussions.

The horrific figures disclosed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in October, which show that nearly 4,000 people were victims of POGO-related crimes—including human trafficking—in the first half of the previous year, underscore the seriousness of the crisis.

Gatchalian criticizes the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) for continuing to license POGOs in spite of their established criminal affiliations and offers a resolution to outlaw such nefarious enterprises permanently.

PAGCOR and certain government figures continue to support offshore gaming despite growing concerns by pointing to the industry’s significant revenue stream and employment prospects.

Similar to this, PAGCOR has stated that it intends to sell off its 45 casinos by the third quarter of 2025, citing substantial revenue sources.

This strategic plan is seen as a way to offset the estimated PHP2.2 billion ($38.2 million) in unpaid dues from defunct POGO enterprises, which are causing losses for the state.

Parties must find a careful balance between the need to fight organized crime and the economic benefits of offshore gaming as the debate over its future intensifies, underscoring the complexity of the problem.

Original Story by: Asian Gaming Brief