Senator Sherwin 'Win' Gatchalian has strongly criticized the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for its inability to prevent the entry of foreign fugitives into the country, particularly those involved in criminal activities such as human trafficking and various online scams, using Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as a front.
In June, a raid was conducted at Xinchuang Network Technology in Las Piñas, resulting in the apprehension of seven foreign fugitives who were subsequently handed over to the BI.
Similarly, in May, seven foreign fugitives were identified at CGC Technologies within the premises of Sunvalley Corporation in Pampanga. Both Xinchuang and CGC were accredited as service providers for POGOs.
"Paano nakakalusot ang mga puganteng ito papasok ng bansa na kinukuha pa ng mga lisensyadong kumpanya ng POGO?" Gatchalian questioned.
Based on police reports, these foreign fugitives, originating from China and Taiwan, are wanted for various crimes such as fraud, theft, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and online scams, among others.
Gatchalian further highlighted that POGOs have undermined the system, leading to multiple loopholes.
Allowing these fugitives to enter the country suggests that some BI personnel may have been compromised by POGOs, he pointed out.
"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," said the Senator.
Gatchalian emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the individuals involved.
He stressed that the meticulous scrutiny displayed by Immigration officers towards outbound Filipino passengers, which includes the requirement of multiple documents such as birth certificates and school records, should also be applied to suspicious inbound passengers to prevent the entry of criminal elements.
