DOJ chief Remulla to meet with Chinese ambassador over deportation of POGO workers

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Tuesday said he will meet with the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines regarding the deportation of employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators that are not licensed.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance on the budget of the Department of Justice, Remulla said there were 216 previously licensed POGO companies that have stopped paying their dues.

Remulla estimated that around 40,000 employees of the POGO companies may be staying in the Philippines illegally.

“But the problem right now that we are facing is the protocol of China in admitting deportations because they have a specific requirement of the testing procedures,” Remulla said.

“So this afternoon, Mr. Chairman, I’ll be speaking to the Ambassador of China to make sure that our protocol for deportation is followed properly so we may be able to start deporting these people,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said there will be a hearing on the revenue and economic benefits of POGOs on Thursday.

In a separate statement, Senator Risa Hontiveros said POGOs should have been removed from the country a long time ago.

Hontiveros said that previous hearings have shown that the “social cost of POGOs outweighs the perceived benefits.”

“Pagkatapos ng imbestigasyon at pagdinig tungkol sa mga krimeng dala ng POGO, I stated in our committee report that POGO as a national policy should be revisited,” Hontiveros said.

“I am glad that there are renewed calls for the complete banning of POGOs. POGOs have not brought anything good to our country. Palayasin na dapat sila sa lalong madaling panahon,” she added. 

House appropriations panel vice chairperson Janet Garin of Iloilo shared the same sentiment. 

"If POGO will be totally banned, taxes generated from investors who would come in will suffice and would even surpass the lost taxes and we will be able to create more jobs. In the meantime and in the interest of our country, for peace and order and the isolated crimes happening, there is no room for impunity in our country, much more so if this is done by foreigners," Garin said during the Ugnayan sa Batasan forum. — with Llanesca Panti/RSJ/VBL, GMA News