Pinoy families of foreign POGO deportees agonize as Dec. 31 deadline nears

The Filipino families of foreigners involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) are agonizing over the pending deportations before the year ends.

According to Saleema Refran’s 24 Oras report on Monday, “Jamaica”, the 21-year old wife of a Chinese POGO worker, has a five-month old child with a Chinese man who will soon be deported

On January 1, all foreign POGO workers will be considered illegal aliens under the implementation of the total POGO ban.

“Sana po mahal na Pangulo tulungan niyo kami. Bigyan ng chance na makabalik yung partner (namin),” she said.

(I hope that our dear President will help us. Give my partner a chance to return.)

Jamaica’ partner was just among the 187 POGO workers who were deported from various raided POGO hubs in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu, Bamban in Tarlac, Clark in Pampanga and Pasay City.

“‘Yung iba dito talagang walang dokyumento nung nahuli natin. Violation nga ito nung kanilang condition of stay,” said PAOCC Executive Director and undersecretary Gilbert Cruz.

(The others here really don't have the necessary documents when we caught them. This is indeed a violation of their condition of stay.)

Upon their arrival in China, the deportees will be detained for their online scamming activities while they undergo investigation.

DSWD Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said that they are working with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) regarding details for custody turnovers and livelihood assistance for families that the deportees would be leaving behind. They are also talking to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines regarding the status of the children fathered by Chinese citizens.

“’Yun kasi yung problema natin, ano ba yung magiging status ng mga bata dito? Pwede bang gamitin yung pangalan ng tatay nya? Pwede bang ilagay yan sa kanilang mga birth certificate? Hindi pa namin alam kung ano yung magiging status nila pagdating sa mga dokyumento dito sa Pilipinas,” said Cruz.

(That's our problem, what will be the status of the children here? Can we use the father's name? Can that be put on their birth certificates? We do not yet know their status when it comes to documents here in the Philippines.) 

By 2025, government operations against illegal POGOs will be intensified. With this, Jamaica fears that her partner will no longer see their child.

“Magkakaroon kami ng mga operations laban sa mga nage-guerilla o yung mga dating mga malalaking POGO hubs na ngayon ay nagbiyak-biyak na para magbuo ng maliliit na POGO operations. May monitoring na kami. May listahan na kami,” Cruz added.

(We will conduct operations against guerillas or those who used to be big POGO hubs who have now broken up to form small POGO operations. We are now monitoring. We have a list.) —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News