AMID reports of undocumented foreigners, the chairman of the House Committee on Games and Amusements on Thursday called on the government to deputize policemen to conduct random checks on foreigners, including workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo).
Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Party-list (ACT-CIS) Rep. Eric Go Yap, the panel chairman, said the government should step up its campaign against foreigners violating immigration and labor laws in the country.
Yap said the campaign should include foreigners who may be overstaying in the country or those working without employment permits, among others.
According to Yap, random checks will be an additional deterrent for foreigners to commit violations of Philippine laws. However, they have nothing to fear if they bring their passports with them all the time and a copy of necessary permits.
“That is basic for Filipinos working or touring abroad. We always have our passports because the police have the authority to check your papers and your passport to determine if you are allowed to be there in the first place. It is an anti-crime measure and I don’t see any reason why it should not be practiced here, as well,” Yap said.
“Sometimes in train stations, sometimes in the mall, sometimes within the vicinity of their government offices, we can be questioned by their police officers which is understandable because anybody can be a security threat or maybe illegal aliens, and they are just doing their jobs which is to maintain public order and safety,” the lawmaker added.
Yap said the checks can also boost the campaign against foreign Pogo workers who have not secured Alien Employment Permits (AEP) and other required documents, as well as paying the right taxes.
“We see the Pogo company being closed in Eastwood and Parañaque because of tax violations. It is a result of a very tedious investigation done by the government. I think random inspections on foreign workers would help in our campaign to track down illegal workers and consequently, catch the big fish,” Yap said.
The lawmaker, meanwhile, conceded the risk of possible extortion and abuse by some police officers, which is why he said he proposed safety nets and appropriate policies in place.
The Department of Finance, citing its initial list, said some 138,000 foreigners are working in Pogo, 54,241 of whom have been given AEPs and another 83,760 holding special working permits.