More than 3,000 foreigners working in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have already secured police clearance amid the ongoing crackdown on undocumented and overstaying foreign workers in the country.
Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said they expect more POGO workers to do the same in the coming days.
"As we speak, there are several undocumented POGO workers rescued by the PNP who are now in the Bureau of Immigration holding area while awaiting deportation and repatriation proceedings," said Azurin.
"At the same time, there are also POGO employers and maintainers accused of violations of Philippine laws who are currently undergoing investigation and initial stages of prosecution," he added.
The Bureau of Immigration has already started the cancellation of the visas of over 42,000 POGO workers after the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) cancelled the authority to operate of their employers.
The crackdown on POGO workers came amid the rise of kidnapping cases involving foreigners.
It was Azurin who recommended that POGO workers must secure police clearance in order for the government to effectively monitor them.
"I was informed that the documentation process of POGO workers by PNP Units and LGUs (local government units) is underway to establish a recording and monitoring system that will keep track of activities of these foreign workers and ensure their compliance to PNP clearance and LGU administrative requirements," said Azurin.
He also disclosed that there are POGO employers and maintainers accused of violations of Philippine laws who are currently undergoing investigation and initial stages of prosecution.