Seven Indonesian workers employed by Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) were surrendered to the PAOCC, seeking help in going back to their native country.
The group, comprising five men and two women, surrendered Friday after their work visas had been revoked and they ran out of money. Debating in uncertainty, they resolved it best to return home to Indonesia.
According to one of the workers, merely identified as Bruno, the group had been shifted from one POGO company to another in Pasay, Parañaque, Makati, and Cavite. They also admitted being involved in online scams, which was a meme thread associated with illegal POGO activities in the country.
The Indonesian runners claimed they did not experience physical abuse, but there were threats directed at them verbally, and there were huge salary deductions if they failed to meet quotas on scamming.
The surrendered workers are presently in the PAOCC’s custody and will be debriefed, profiled, and processed through the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The authorities are collaborating with the Indonesian Embassy in the Philippines to help with their repatriation.
This comes amid the Philippine government’s crackdown on illegal POGO operations that have been linked to crimes such as human trafficking, fraud, and the exploitation of foreign workers.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
