Senator Raffy Tulfo has voiced strong criticism against the current 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 confessed to participating in love scams, yet only Filipinos are given aid by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) upon being caught, often under the guise of being human trafficking victims. Tulfo emphasized the need for accountability, arguing that Filipinos involved in these fraudulent activities should face legal repercussions. He specifically called for the arrest of Filipino supervisors during POGO raids, excluding only janitors, utility staff, and cooks. This comes as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has canceled numerous internet gaming licenses, aiming to shut down the industry by January 2025, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to close all POGO operations by the end of 2024. Before the ban, the sector employed over 58,000 people, with significant foreign workforce. Since the deadline, law enforcement has ramped up efforts, resulting in over 3,000 arrests related to illegal POGOs.
Senator Demands Arrest of Filipinos Involved in POGO Scams
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