Solon calls out BI for failure to prevent entry of foreign fugitives in POGOs

SENATOR Win Gatchalian called out the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for its failure to prevent the entry of foreign fugitives into the country, who engage in various criminal activities such as human trafficking and various online scams by using Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as a front.

In June, police authorities conducted a raid at Xinchuang Network Technology in Las Piñas, resulting in the turnover of seven foreign fugitives to the BI. Similarly in May, seven foreign fugitives were also identified at the raided CGC Technologies in Sunvalley Corporation in Pampanga. Both Xinchuang and CGC were POGO-accredited service providers.

“Paano nakakalusot ang mga puganteng ito papasok ng bansa na kinukuha pa ng mga lisensyadong kumpanya ng POGO?” Gatchalian asked.

Based on police reports, the foreign fugitives, including individuals from China and Taiwan, are wanted for crimes such as fraud, theft, drug trafficking activities, human trafficking, and online scams, among others.

“POGOs corrupt the system kaya maraming palusot ang nangyayari. By allowing these fugitives to enter the country, some Bureau of Immigration personnel might have also been tainted by POGOs and the individuals involved should be properly investigated,” Gatchalian said.

He emphasized that the meticulous scrutiny shown by immigration officers towards outbound Filipino passengers, including demanding numerous documents such as birth certificates and transcript of school records, should also be applied to suspicious inbound passengers to prevent the entry of criminal elements.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Gatchalian has been calling for the expulsion of POGOs from the country, stating that the existence of POGOs greatly contribute to the deterioration of peace and order in the country.