By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday called on the Department of Health (DOH) to swiftly contain the reported spread of contagious diseases among Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers held in a government detention facility.
“The spread of contagious diseases among POGO workers in PAOCC custody demands urgent action from the DOH, including immediate containment, quarantine protocols, and the provision of proper healthcare to prevent further transmission,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
“Alternative facilities must be identified to ensure humane detention and effective disease control,” he added.
Authorities recently reported a surge of infections inside a holding facility managed by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), where hundreds of foreign nationals allegedly involved in illegal POGO operations are being detained.
Gatchalian said the government must treat the outbreak seriously but warned against using it as a reason to delay law enforcement efforts.
“This health issue, however, must not be used as an excuse to suspend anti-POGO operations. Once cleared by the DOH, these POGO workers must be immediately deported,” he said.
Gatchalian underscored the urgency of sustaining the crackdown against illegal POGOs, many of which have been linked to crimes such as human trafficking, cyber fraud, and illegal detention.
“Kinakailangang ipagpatuloy ang kampanya laban sa mga POGO nang walang humpay upang tuluyang mapuksa ang kanilang ilegal na gawain (We must continue the campaign against POGOs without letup in order to completely dismantle their illegal activities),” the senator said. (PNA)
