PAOCC helping 15 kids abandoned by foreign POGO workers

Fifteen very young children are seeking support from the government after their foreigner fathers who were former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers were deported, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Sunday.

PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said the children, whose mothers are Filipinas, range from infants to three years old.

“Itong 15 bata na ‘to mga anak ito nung mga dating POGO workers na pina-deport natin. Every week, pumupunta sa amin ‘yan, humihingi ng pang-gatas, pang-pampers, minsan ‘yung iba pambayad pa ng apartment nila,” Cruz said in a Super Radyo dzBB.

(These 15 are children of former POGO workers who got deported. Every week, they come to us asking money for milk, diapers, and sometimes even to pay for their apartment rent.)

“Hindi naman nating pwedeng tanggihan ‘yan kasi nga ano sila, naging collateral damage o naging problema sila na binunga nitong illegal POGO operations dito sa atin,” he added.

(We can't turn them away because they have become collateral damage or a problem brought about by the illegal POGO operations in our country.)

The PAOCC official said they are not letting the children stay inside their detention center, but they provide them the support they need. He said they are also now coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regarding the matter.

“Nakakalungkot lang na pati ‘yung mga ganitong problema, pati bata nadadamay na rin,” Cruz said.

(It's just sad that because of these problems, even children get affected.)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in his third State of the Nation Address in July, banned all POGOs after some were implicated in crimes, including human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and money scams.

Foreign workers from POGOs were given until October 15 to downgrade their 9G visas to tourist visas. They have until the end of the year to leave the Philippines.

According to Cruz, nearly 200 POGO hubs are still operating in the country. There are also around 700 individuals who are under PAOCC’s custody, and 250 of them are set to be deported next week.

“‘Yung mga foreigner na ‘yan na dating nagta-trabaho sa mga POGO, hindi na ho pwedeng umupo sa mga computers nila ‘yan para magtrabaho dahil huhulihin na po ‘yan. Ibig sabihin, mga tourist nalang po ‘yan, hindi na sila pwede magtrabaho [dito],” he said.

(Those foreigners who used to work in POGOs work here in the country because they will be arrested. That means, they are now just tourists, and cannot work here anymore.)

The foreigners are currently detained at a former POGO hub in Pasay City.

In November, Marcos issued Executive Order No. 74, which states that the ban on POGOs and internet gaming licenses shall encompass illegal offshore gaming operations, license applications, license renewals, and cessation of operations.

Under the EO, all POGOs/IGLs and other offshore gaming operators without the necessary license, permit, or authorization from the relevant government licensing authority are classified as illegal gambling entities as defined under Section 2 of EO No. 13 (s.2017), and are covered by the ongoing and intensified crackdown on illegal gambling activities being enforced by law enforcement agencies. —RF, GMA Integrated News