Pimentel wants ‘massive crackdown’ on Pogo workers amid rise of sex dens

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino Pimentel III has called on law enforcement authorities to launch a “massive crackdown” on Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) workers in light of the rise of prostitution dens, catering mostly to Chinese nationals.

“Yung karamihan ng Pogo workers kung iligal yang mga yan, there should be a massive crackdown, send them home…Gumising na siguro ang ating immigration, gumising na ang ating labor (department)…there should be a massive crackdown,” Pimentel told reporters in an interview on Wednesday.

(Most of the Pogo workers, if they are illegal, there should be a massive crackdown, send them home. Our immigration and labor department should wake up… there should be a massive crackdown).

“May report tayong nare-recieve na visa upon arrival ang mga nakuha ng mga yan. E visa upon arrival pang-turista lang yon hindi pwedeng pangtrabahante yun,” he added.

(We have been receiving reports that they are issued visas upon arrival. Visas upon arrival should only be given to tourists, not for those who plan to work in the country).

It was during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family, Relations, and Gender Equality on Tuesday when the operation of sex dens offering sexual favors from women, like an online food delivery service, was bared.

READ: Sex on the menu for Pogo workers

An official from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the rise of these prostitution dens came with the emergence of Pogos in the country.

“I’m sure may nabi-victimize ding mga Pilipina, hindi lang siguro purely Chinese ang mga babaeng nandiyan, may minors pa. Kaya nga sinabi ko kanina, pati PNP (Philippine National Police), crackdown,” Pimentel went on.

(I’m sure even Filipinas are victimized, not purely Chinese, even minors. That’s why I’m saying, even the PNP should launch a crackdown.)

The senator, who chairs the Senate foreign relations committee, said that the Bureau of Immigration should double down and tighten its policy on visa upon arrival (VUA) issued to Chinese nationals.

“I-tighten na yang kamay niyang agency na nagbibigay ng visa upon arrival,” he added.

(The hands of the agency issuing visas upon arrival should be tightened.)

Senator Richard Gordon echoed Pimentel, saying that those behind the prostitution dens should be arrested and their operations be stopped.

“These are the negative aspects of yung mga nangyayari satin ngayon, habang nagpapapasok tayo ng mga ganyan, maraming pera yan, they don’t speak Tagalog, so humahanap sila talaga ng sarili nilang mga palabas or pag-release ng kaninang mga tension,” Gordon said in a separate interview.

(What’s happening are the negative aspects; these Chinese nationals who have a lot of money and don’t speak Tagalog keep coming into our country, they’re looking for a show, something to release their tension).

“Prostitution is illegal whether it comes from the Chinese or another [national]…dapat hulihin yang mga yan, at pigilan (they should be arrested, this should be stopped),” he added.