PAGCOR approves PHP50M for POGO worker repatriation

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has approved a PHP50 million grant to fund the deportation of foreign workers employed by illegal offshore gaming operators.

On June 30, PAGCOR signed a memorandum of agreement with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the PAGCOR Executive Office in Pasay City to formalize the funding, and released the first tranche of PHP25 million during the signing ceremony.

The grant will be used to cover repatriation expenses for illegal POGO workers currently held at BI facilities who cannot afford plane tickets, ensuring they receive assistance in accordance with international laws and humanitarian considerations.

PAGCOR chair Alejandro Tengco stated that the funds would support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s ban on offshore gaming operations since mid-2024, which was implemented after congressional investigations revealed links to illicit activities such as scams, torture, human trafficking, and possibly even espionage and killings.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized the importance of a whole-of-government approach in upholding immigration laws and ensuring community safety by fast-tracking deportation cases.