A two-year-old girl has become stateless because of her parents' deportation. Her parents were linked to the now-illegal POGO trade.
A two-year-old girl whose parents are Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers has found herself caught in the crossfire of her father and mother’s deportation.
Yao Yao, the daughter of a deported Chinese POGO worker and a Vietnamese mother, faces significant hurdles in joining her mother in Vietnam due to her lack of documentation.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is currently providing temporary care for Yao Yao while her mother, Lucky, navigates the complex immigration process.
“Lumalabas na ‘yong bata ay stateless dahil maghihintay pa siya ng siguro 18 years old para makapamili [ng nationality niya] (It turned out that the child will be stateless because she will wait until 18 years old to choose her nationality),” said PAOCC chairman Gilbert Cruz.
The PAOCC is hopeful that the Vietnamese embassy will grant permission for Yao Yao to accompany her mother, ensuring the child receives the necessary maternal care.
“If Yao Yao stays, I stay. If Yao Yao leaves, I will also leave,” Lucky, her mother said, as reported by GMA News. Lucky and Yao Yao’s father broke up even before he was deported.
“Kung ia-allow naman siya ng embassy ng Vietnam na pumunta sa Vietnam with Yao Yao then ok lang yun. Mas ok sa amin yun, Kasi kailangan talaga ang kalinga ng nanay (If the Vietnam embassy allows her to go to Vietnam with Yao Yao, then it’s okay with us. In fact, that would be better. Because she needs her mother’s care).”
While under the PAOCC’s care, Yao Yao and her mother provide them with food, diapers, and milk. Sometimes, employees allowed her to use their gadgets.
Despite the challenges, Lucky remains optimistic, believing that the warmth and kindness she and Yao Yao have experienced in the Philippines will be a cherished memory for her daughter.
Yao Yao’s story is just among those of other POGO workers who made a life in the Philippines.
Some of these POGO workers, a large number of which hail from Chinese descent, also started families with Filipinos and face a similar dilemma of leaving their loved ones behind once the December 31 deadline of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reins in.
Jamaica, a Filipina who has a Chinese partner, hopes the government could consider giving them aid.
“Sana tulungan po nila kami, na may mga anak dito sa Pilipinas,” Jamaica tearfully said, in GMA News’ nightly news program 24 Oras.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is currently coordinating with PAOCC to help families of POGO workers.
“Ang DSWD ay nagrereach out na sa PAOCC para makuha natin ang details at ma-turn over sa ating pangangalaga ng nanay at ang kanilang mga anak (The DSWD has reached out to PAOCC so we could get the details and turn them over to our care),” said DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao, adding that they could provide livelihood assistance to mothers.
Read related article: Kids of Deported POGO Workers Being Helped by PAOCC
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