SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday urged concerned government agencies to sustain their actions against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators amid reports that POGO remnants have ventured into other kinds of businesses to hide their illicit activities.
“More than ever, we need to sustain our efforts to clear out all criminal syndicates that are products of POGOs. We must stay the course to ensure a safer and more secure Philippines for all Filipinos,” Gatchalian said.
He said the deadline for the total cessation of POGO operations lapsed last December 31 but warned that the offshore gaming industry has transformed itself into business entities like Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies, resorts, and restaurants, among others “to camouflage their illegal activities.”
Gatchalian said the campaign against underground POGOs now lies in the hands of law enforcement agencies, local government units, and the people.
“All law enforcement agencies, in close coordination with local government units, as well as the general public, must remain vigilant against the presence of POGO offshoots disguised as legitimate business entities,” he added.
He said concerned government agencies should not be complacent since the transformation of POGO remnants into other business forms poses similar risks to peace and order, citing information from the Bureau of Immigration which is working with other agencies to locate around 11,000 former POGO workers set for deportation.
He said these illegal aliens might resort to criminal activities such as kidnapping and illegal drugs to sustain their stay in the country.
“Because they have evaded deportation, we can safely assume that these illegal aliens are onto something unlawful and the vigilance of everyone is necessary to ensure that such activities are arrested and these aliens are deported as soon as possible,” he said.
Gatchalian lauded the Office of the Solicitor General for moving to cancel the birth certificates that were fraudulently acquired by the aliens even as he called for swifter actions to stop holders of illegally acquired birth records from further committing abuses in the country.
