Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to take swift action to address the reported outbreak of contagious diseases among Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers detained at a government facility. The facility, managed by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), houses hundreds of foreign nationals allegedly involved in illegal POGO operations.

According to Philippines News Agency, authorities have reported a significant increase in infections within the PAOCC detention center. Gatchalian emphasized the necessity for the DOH to implement immediate containment measures, establish quarantine protocols, and provide adequate healthcare to prevent further disease transmission among the detainees.

Gatchalian also highlighted the need for identifying alternative facilities to ensure humane detention conditions and effective disease control. He stressed that while the health crisis requires urgent attention, it should not be used as a pretext to halt ongoing law enforcement activities against illegal POGO operations.

The senator stated that once cleared by the DOH, the affected POGO workers should be deported promptly. He reiterated the importance of maintaining the crackdown on illegal POGOs, which have been associated with various criminal activities, including human trafficking, cyber fraud, and illegal detention.

Gatchalian concluded by reinforcing the need for continuous efforts to combat illegal POGO operations, calling for an unyielding campaign to dismantle their unlawful activities.