Philippines to transfer two Indonesian ex-POGO workers for deportation
The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BI) received custody of two former Indonesian workers from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) for deportation. This will be the latest in a series of deportations involving foreign nationals previously employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
In a radio interview with a local media, the BI confirmed that while it has received informal confirmation of the planned turnover, formal procedures are anticipated upon the workers’ arrival. The BI has been coordinating closely with PAOCC, which has played a key role in locating and assisting foreign nationals seeking repatriation.
The two Indonesians had earlier approached PAOCC for help, expressing their desire to return to their home country. They cited an inability to afford travel expenses and asked for assistance. The PAOCC said it would refer their cases to the BI and the Department of Justice’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and initiate contact with the Indonesian Embassy to facilitate their return.
More foreign workers seeking repatriation
This is not the first instance of foreign workers seeking help from PAOCC. In March, seven Indonesians also surrendered to the agency under similar circumstances, requesting support for their repatriation. Over recent months, the BI said it has deported between 700 and 800 foreign POGO workers, many of whom were found without proper documentation or were involved in illegal activities.
Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on all offshore gaming operations in the Southeast Asian country.
Legislative response to POGO-linked issues
The deportations come amid a renewed legislative push to end POGO operations in the Philippines. Earlier this month, Senator Risa Hontiveros called for the passage of the Anti-POGO Act, which seeks a complete ban on offshore gambling operations and proposes legal action against those engaged in related criminal activities.
The Act aims to address a broader pattern of transnational crimes linked to POGOs, including scams, human trafficking, and financial offences. It also includes measures to withdraw tax privileges granted to POGOs during the Duterte administration and enable tax recovery efforts by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Hontiveros has warned that while enforcement in the Philippines is increasing, many scam operations are shifting to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar. She has urged regional governments to collaborate on a unified response to dismantle these criminal networks.
Regional and global cooperation urged
The Senator has also advocated for stronger international cooperation, particularly with countries whose citizens have been victims of POGO-linked scams. She proposed engaging Western governments, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. Hontiveros also proposed to strengthen the Bali Process, a regional forum on trafficking and irregular migration, to support policies that prioritise the welfare of trafficked individuals.
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