Senator Raffy Tulfo has expressed strong criticism over the handling of raids on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), highlighting a perceived disparity in treatment between Filipino and foreign workers. During a Senate public hearing, Tulfo pointed out that while foreign nationals caught in POGO raids are detained and deported, Filipino workers receive government assistance. He shared stories from his radio show where both Filipino and foreign POGO workers revealed their involvement in love scams, which target both local and international victims. Tulfo criticized the system where these workers, upon being caught, are given aid by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the guise of being human trafficking victims. He demanded accountability, insisting that Filipino workers involved in these fraudulent schemes should face legal repercussions. Tulfo emphasized that POGOs could not operate without Filipino supervisors and called for their arrest during raids, except for non-involved staff like janitors and cooks. In response to the issue, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has revoked 42 internet gaming licenses and 18 authorized provider licenses, aiming to shut down the industry by January 2025. The last POGO license was canceled on December 15, 2024, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to close all POGO operations by December 31, 2024. Before the ban, the sector employed 58,181 people, with 30,144 being foreign workers. Since the deadline, authorities have ramped up efforts against illegal POGOs, resulting in 3,024 arrests.
Senator Demands Arrest of Filipino POGO Workers Involved in Illegal Activities
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