EDITORIAL - POGOs and human trafficking

According to a non-government organization, there is no coincidence between the rise in cases of human trafficking and the rise of the number of Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators.

Sherryl Loseno, operations manager of the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc., said during a Senate hearing that the “connection to POGOs is undeniable since the prostitution rings cater exclusively to foreign clients.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros went further, saying some syndicates even make it easier for their regular clients, putting together a “menu” of photos of women to choose from.

If Hontiveros and Loseno are to be believed, POGOs are encouraging the rise of prostitution and human trafficking, victimizing mostly Chinese women.

The operation of POGOs is something the government should look into and even rethink at some point. In the first place, POGOs skirt the boundary of the law. They are operating here but are staffed by foreigners, technically this means they are robbing locals of jobs that should go to them.

Aside from the allegations of human trafficking, POGOs are already being blamed for the rise of kidnapping incidents, extortion incidents, as well as the increase of Chinese nationals who come here as tourists but who end up working illegally.

Now it seems they are giving rise to another criminal enterprise.

Of course, some may say “why should be bother? It’s only Chinese women being victimized anyway.”

That reasoning itself is already flawed. Even if the victims are mostly Chinese women, they still deserve the protection of our laws because they are here on our soil.

Besides, once these syndicates run of Chinese girls to victimize, or want to expand their “menu” --which is always a possibility given an increasing number of clients-- they will turn to our women to prey on.

That is if this isn’t happening already.