Philippines report reveals POGO ‘connection’ to human trafficking – Legal & Compliance – iGB
A damning committee report detailing the ties between Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and illegal activities such as prostitution and human trafficking has been presented to the country’s senate.
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Philippines report reveals POGO ‘connection’ to human trafficking
The report found “a connection between the expansion of POGO industry and the increase in prostitution and human trafficking cases.”
Raids by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) uncovered prostitution dens catering specifically to Chinese clients – the vast majority of whom were POGO workers. This corroborated the report’s findings that the number of prostitution dens had increased in correlation with the number of POGOs operating in Manila.
The investigation also found that WeChat was being used to arrange sexual encounters. The report also includes testimony from underage girls who had been recruited to work in the industry, the youngest of whom was just 14.
Four Chinese nationals working at an unnamed POGO were arrested in an NBI sting operation, which found that a Taiwanese national had been trafficked to work at the company, where her passport was confiscated and she was subjected to sexual harassment.
A study has emphasized that Philippine Online Gaming Operators (POGOs) are intensifying local prostitution and human trafficking problems. The study proposes modifying existing laws to address criminal activities utilizing online platforms and promptly enacting anti-human trafficking amendments. It also advises bilateral agreements to safeguard foreign women from trafficking and prostitution, as law enforcement reports a lack of coordinated action from the Chinese embassy when informed of cases involving rescued Chinese women. The study points out that POGO’s have encouraged the influx of prostitution and established “Chinese-only” prostitution rings, transforming the nation into an unparalleled destination for trafficked foreign women.
Makati City in the Philippines halted the issuance of licenses to POGO’s in 2019 due to its association with prostitution and crime. Last year, the nation also imposed additional taxes on POGO’s.
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