Gov't has responsibility to protect trafficked POGO workers –Hontiveros

Published September 23, 2022 06:32 PM By HANA BORDEY,GMA News

The Philippine government has a responsibility to protect trafficked Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) employees, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Friday.

The opposition lawmaker pointed this out amid the Department of Justice's plan to deport POGO workers

who are reported to be illegally staying in the Philippines.

"The POGO workers are not the enemy. Ang kalaban dito ay ang mga sindikato, na kakambal ng mga sistema at polisiyang nagpapalago sa kanilang modus. Habang kumikita silang mga masasamang loob, ang mga manggagawa -- Pilipino man o ibang lahi -- ay patuloy na naabuso," Hontiveros said in a statement.

(The real enemy here is the criminal gangs that benefit from the system and the policies on POGOs. As long as these syndicates are earning, these workers-- Filipinos or not-- will continue to be abused.)

Based on the investigation that she launched during the 18th Congress, Hontiveros said most of the POGO workers are victims of labor traffickers and sex traffickers.

"As a signatory to multiple international conventions, responsibilidad ng Pilipinas ang pagbigay ng proteksyon para sa mga POGO workers na biktima ng trafficking," she added.

She also mentioned that the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2022 provides protection and services to trafficked foreign nationals. Such services include the provision of interpreters and coordination with their embassies in the Philippines.

On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said he would meet with the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines regarding the deportation of unlicensed POGO workers.

The Justice chief on Wednesday said the government was ready to deport around 280 illegal POGO employees.

Earlier, several senators expressed their concern over the social cost of offshore gaming operations in the country.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing to measure the economic benefits and social costs of POGOs.

A resolution had been filed in the Senate seeking an overall evaluation of POGO's social costs and economic gains.

Last week, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said he was in favor of discontinuing the program because of its social costs.

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who led the Senate probe into the series of reported abductions and kidnappings in the country, earlier said banning POGOs might be a solution to deter crimes in the Philippines. — DVM, GMA News

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