Philippines’ Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has announced plans to launch further probe into banks and financial institutions involved in illegal operations connected to POGOs. This could spark a domino effect, prompting the government to initiate a nationwide probe into institutions linked to such POGO activities.
Gatchalian, a vocal critic of POGOs, plans to file a resolution targeting Alice Guo, a former elected mayor, facing serious allegations of using her position to establish the Tarlac hub while allegedly faking her Filipino citizenship.
For those unfamiliar, Alice Guo, former mayor of Bamban, Tarlace has been accused of espionage & assisting POGO workers, though she has denied these claims.
Calls for probe into illegal bank funds
The Filipino senator’s resolution will seek to scrutinise the flow of illegal funds through banks, with the senator accusing that PHP7 billion entered financial institutions undetected by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
He criticised the AMLC, i.e. the Anti-Money Laundry Council for its failure to detect and curb illegal activities in POGO hubs, emphasising that money laundering has not been given the attention it deserves.
This comes as the Philippines’ crackdown on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) intensifies as authorities take new steps to address illegal activities linked to the industry.
This move follows a year-long investigation by the Senate into POGO-related issues, including human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, murder, and money laundering. The investigation revealed troubling ties between POGOs and illegal activities, pushing the government to take stronger action against the sector.
With the investigation now concluded, Gatchalian and other lawmakers are pushing for tougher measures to prevent further crimes linked to POGOs.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has been stepping up its efforts to deport foreign nationals working in POGOs following the government’s ban on the industry. The BI has already declared over 11,000 foreign nationals linked to POGOs as illegal aliens and is conducting a nationwide manhunt to locate them.
Companies on radar amid crackdown
And so, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned that those who continue to breach the law will be arrested, deported, and blacklisted with no exemptions. He also stressed that companies still employing these foreign workers must cooperate with authorities and surrender them, or else, they may face charges for illegally harboring workers.
Viado also revealed that before the ban, a total of 33,863 POGO workers were registered under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Of this number, 24,779 workers opted to downgrade their visas, and 22,609 left the country by the December 31st, 2024 deadline. However, as of now, 11,254 individuals remain unlawfully in the country.
As the crackdown continues, the Senator’s proposal to increase inspections and investigate banks linked to POGOs is expected to add more pressure on the sector.
The Philippine government remains resolute to dismantle illegal POGO operations and enforce stricter regulations to ensure that foreign workers comply with immigration laws.
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