The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) warned on June 9 that despite the government's complete shutdown of offshore gaming operations (POGO) last year, there are still over 9,000 illegal foreign workers at large within the country, and efforts to clear and deport them have stalled due to severe shortages in detention facilities.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz revealed at the final hearing of the Congressional Quadrilateral Committee that the foreign detention center in Metro Manila is severely overloaded, with the Pasay City shelter currently holding more than 600 foreign nationals, exceeding its maximum capacity. Due to the lack of new detention space, law enforcement agencies have had to suspend apprehension operations, causing illegal foreign nationals to continue staying in the Philippines, posing a potential security threat.
In response to this situation, Manila City Councilor Benny Abante called for a joint enforcement operation by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and PAOCC. He emphasized the need to detain these illegal individuals collectively to prevent them from infiltrating the community again. He also harshly criticized some local governments for their negligence in regulating the issuance of POGO licenses and suggested holding those responsible accountable to prevent similar issues from recurring.
The Director of the Philippine Bureau of Corrections, Gregorio Catapang, stated that the national Bilibid Prison has freed up space to accommodate 100 people transferred by the NBI and 500 by the BI. He also revealed that to alleviate the pressure of future large-scale enforcement actions, the government could consider using Fort Magsaysay in Luzon Island as a temporary detention center. Originally planned as a drug rehabilitation facility, it can now serve as an effective supplement.
Philippine President Marcos signed an executive order on July 22, 2024, completely banning POGO operations. The order was issued in the context of multiple raids where law enforcement found equipment used for illegal detention, telefraud, and violence in POGO offices, further confirming their connections with transnational criminal groups, posing serious threats to national security and public order.
However, nearly a year after the ban took effect, the challenge of clearing "legacy issues" remains daunting. The whereabouts of more than 9,000 illegal foreign workers are testing the coordination efficiency and enforcement capability among various Philippine departments. How to implement deportations, supplement detention facilities, and curb rebounds promptly and legally will be a significant task the government must face moving forward.
