At least 9,000 undocumented foreign nationals who previously worked for Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs)--including those with infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis--remain on the loose. (Video courtesy of House of Representatives)
00:00The underground pog operations are now increasingly tied to wider criminal networks.
00:07According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, illegal gambling is often connected to cybercrime, human trafficking, and money laundering.
00:15Many now operate under the disguise of BPO companies or tech firms using advanced technology to run efficiently with fewer staff and less physical infrastructure.
00:27This shift has made detection more difficult for law enforcement.
00:31These operations are often embedded with legitimate-looking businesses and identifying them requires effective coordination, enhanced surveillance tools, and active participation of local communities.
00:46The crackdown also strained government resources.
00:50Over 600 foreign nationals are currently detained in the PAOC main facility in Pasay.
00:56Actually, itong facility po na ito is a repurposed building.
01:01This is a former Pogo hub na ginawa po nating kulungan at ginawang gamit din po para sa DSWD purposes.
01:11With a monthly expenditure of millions for food and healthcare, medical needs are rising with detainees diagnosed with illnesses like tuberculosis, hepatitis B, respiratory infection, and even cases of HIV.
01:29Actually, sir, dito po kami nalulumpo.
01:32Just three weeks ago, nagpa-cremate po tayo ng isang HIV victim.
01:41So, due to the overcrowding enforcement actions against the estimated 9,000, ito po po yung kailangan hulihin natin, these are more than 9,000 illegal foreign workers have been temporarily suspended.
01:56Many detainees still cannot be deported due to missing passports.
02:01Ito po yung problema natin, sir, yung mga walang passports.
02:04Because yung mga foreign nationals na nagtrabaho po sa Pogo, mga tinanggalan po ng passports yan.
02:11At yan, pakalat-kalat po ngayon dito sa Pilipinas.
02:14And we called it yung mga public charge.
02:19Pag nahuli po natin yan, tayo po ang magpapa...
02:23Kasi wala nga po mga passports na yan, sir.
02:25So, marami pong nakakalat dito sa atin na mga public charge na mga foreign nationals.
02:44Kasi wala nga mu zun na nakakalatvetu sa Pogo ng kailangan na someplace bandit no kwakaayon dito sa Pilipinas.
02:49Atarnakagala wala nga po ngayon dito sa Pogo, mo to nga pomisha sa Pilipinas nga po atayon nga bridge da ga padasto,
02:53opo lang na matakalaju po na sutaest write tam rivera na atasite rireariam,
