Despite the December 31, 2024 deadline, only 10% of foreign POGO workers have been deported, raising concerns about enforcement and potential illegal operations.
Concerns over the lingering presence of foreign Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) workers escalated on Thursday as Senator Raffy Tulfo revealed that only 10 percent of them have been deported, despite the December 31, 2024 deadline for their exit.
During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, it was disclosed that as of August last year, 30,144 of the 58,181 registered POGO workers nationwide were foreign nationals. However, data from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed that only 3,024 of these individuals had been deported, raising serious questions about enforcement efforts.
Government Struggles to Enforce POGO Ban
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had ordered the complete shutdown of POGO operations last year, setting a clear deadline for foreign workers to leave. However, BI Legal Division Chief Arvin Cesar Santos admitted that while 12,106 visa cancellation orders were issued, deportation efforts have been sluggish due to logistical and legal challenges.
Pressed by Senator Tulfo on the whereabouts of the remaining foreign POGO workers, Santos acknowledged that many are unaccounted for. This has fueled suspicions that illegal POGO activities may still be ongoing.
“So ibig sabihin, meron pang gumagala gala dyan o baka nag-o-operate pa rin illegally. Meron tayong 27,000 foreign national na nagwo-work sa Pogo at hindi nyo na-account kung nasaan sila?” Tulfo questioned
(So does this mean there are still those operating illegally? There are 27,000 foreign nationals working in POGOs and you failed to account for their whereabouts?)
Possible Underground POGO Operations?
The alarming figures suggest that a significant number of foreign workers may have gone underground, potentially continuing their POGO-related activities illegally. Authorities have been stepping up their efforts, with Santos reporting that 438 individuals were apprehended in operations at the start of 2025. However, with thousands still unaccounted for, concerns persist over the effectiveness of enforcement measures.
The issue also raises broader questions about law enforcement capabilities, resource allocation, and the possible existence of protection networks enabling these foreign nationals to remain in the country despite the ban.
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