20,000 POGO workers given 60 days to leave Phl

The estimated 20,000 foreign workers of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGL) have 60 days or until Sept. 24 to leave the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced yesterday.

- EVELYN MACAIRAN

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued the order in compliance with the directive of President Marcos to ban all POGO hubs in the country because their operations have ventured into illegal activities such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture and murder.

The order would take effect on July 26, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.

The 20,000 POGO and IGL workers computation was from the premise that there are more than 40 companies that hired between 300 to 500 employees.

The BI chief said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has provided a list of foreigners working in POGOS and IGLS and that roughly 70 percent of these may be Chinese nationals.