Remulla warns BI staff: Don’t extort from leaving foreign Pogo workers

INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla warned immigration officials and personnel against extorting foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) who are leaving the country.

Their departure comes following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ban these businesses.

The prohibition on all Pogos and IGLs was announced by Marcos in his State of the Nation Address on July 22.

READ: EO enough to enforce Pogo ban, says SolGen

“Paprangkahin ko kayo. Huwag sana silang mag isip — maraming elements within the BI [Bureau of Immigration] — na gagawa pa sila ng pera. Palabas na itong mga tao, peperahan pa rin,” Remulla said at a Kapihan session with reporters on Thursday.

(Let me be frank with you. I hope they don’t think — many elements within the BI —that they will still make money. These people are already leaving but they still want to extort them.)

He did not specify how BI officials and personnel can extort money from the foreigners.

“Alam naman natin, ano to eh, palabigasan ito. Maraming corrupt elements within the BI,” Remulla observed.

(We all know that this is a milking cow. There are many corrupt elements within the BI.)

“Huwag na nilang isipin ‘yun. Lets help the president wrap up this problem para matapos ito ng maayos,” he said.

(They should stop thinking about it. Let’s help the president wrap up this problem so it can be resolved properly.)

READ: BI gives foreign Pogo workers 2 months to leave

The BI has given foreigners working in Pogos and IGLs 60 days to voluntarily leave the country.

But Remulla said he will still clarify with the BI the rules and procedures on the foreigners’ departure.

He added the bureau has to cooperate with the Department of Justice to ensure the smooth closure of Pogos and IGLs.

“They’ll have to be with us. Kailangan makipaglaro sila at makisayaw sila sa tugtog na aming kinukumpas para maging maayos ang pagsasarado ng Pogo dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.

(They’ll have to be with us. They need to play along and dance to the tune we are conducting so that the closure of POGO here in the Philippines can be orderly.)