Before anything, kudos to the patriotic men and women of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime task force headed by no less than Atty. Gilbert Cruz. Their recent raid against a POGO firm Lucky South 99 saved 186 individuals who are reportedly being used for scams and illegal sexual activities. According to the Inquirer, these people of various nationalities are smuggled into the country to take part in online scams as well as prostitution and the like. see link: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1948727/pampanga-pogo-linked-to-scams-trafficking-186-rescued-in-raid?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=gallery.

POGOS or online gaming companies are banned in China. Chinese authorities have asked Philippine officials since the Duterte administration not to allow these companies to operate in the Philippines. Online users not just in China, but in the United States and Europe fall prey to the illicit activities of these companies.

The most often asked question is, what measures does the Bureau of Immigration undertake to curb the entry of these trafficked individuals? These individuals pass our ports, usually through our airports. Don’t tell me that our immigration authorities are so lax, these people pass unnoticed?

We do now have a problem with immigration. Before our problem is about illicit goods being brought in. Now, we are talking about humans or people guys. They are being trafficked profusely now.

The Marcos junior administration must address this seriously this time. This government should not allow the illegal entry of foreigners being used for criminal activities. Our immigration bureau should closely and strictly enforce our laws and also strengthen their links with the International Police or INTERPOL so that these criminal syndicates will not puncture our borders.

Some people are speculating that this large-scale entry might be part of China’s foreign interventionist strategies. This is the same tactic Cuba used against the United States during the sixties and seventies when it allowed criminal elements from its country to enter the US mainland. These criminal elements involved destabilization activities that further subverted the United States.

The Philippines must be extremely cautious because the threat from China is real. We cannot allow a budding imperialist to subvert us.