Recently, a kidnapping case involving a foreign student in the Philippines has drawn social attention. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has accused the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) of still being a major hotbed of criminal activities and has called for a complete ban on the industry to maintain social safety.
Sherwin Gatchalian has long advocated for a total ban on POGO and has strongly condemned the recent kidnapping incident. He emphasized that the authorities must make every effort to apprehend the suspects and crack down on illegal activities related to the gaming industry.
"The problems brought by POGO must be completely eradicated. We cannot allow these illegal operations to continue breeding crime, creating panic and unrest in the communities," said Gatchalian.
Although law enforcement agencies successfully rescued the kidnapped student, he still urges the government to strengthen campus security measures to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again.
Senate Minority Deputy Leader Risa Hontiveros also expressed concern about the incident. She pointed out that in recent years, the number of kidnapping cases involving foreigners and even Filipino citizens has significantly increased, closely related to the expansion of the POGO industry.
"What is even more disturbing is that the victims are not only those related to POGO but also Filipino students are starting to become targets of crime," she added.
Law enforcement agencies have stated that an increasing number of Chinese nationals are being kidnapped, related to debt disputes within the POGO industry. Criminals exploit regulatory loopholes in the underground gaming industry to engage in extortion, kidnapping, and other illegal activities, posing a serious threat to public security.
The government is intensifying its review of the operations related to the POGO industry and may take stricter measures in the future to control gambling-related crimes and enhance the protection of foreigners.
