The Bureau of Immigration (BI) successfully deported a total of 98 Chinese nationals after being caught working under an illegal POGO company, in line with the government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal offshore gaming operations.
This follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to put an end to POGO operations in the country, as part of broader efforts to protect national security and curb transnational crimes linked to these establishments.
The deportees boarded a Philippine Airlines chartered flight to Xi’an, China on the evening of February 25.
A total of 91 Chinese nationals were part of the 450 individuals arrested on January 8 in a commercial building in Parañaque City, while another seven were from the BI’s detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that the chartered flight was arranged by the Chinese Embassy as part of their coordinated efforts to expedite the removal of foreign nationals involved in illegal POGO activities.
Since January, the BI has apprehended more than 500 foreign nationals in separate operations in Parañaque, Cavite, and Pasay City. Of these, a total of 226 have already been deported. activities.”
Additionally, 10 Vietnamese nationals were also deported on the same date via NAIA Terminal 1.
The BI reaffirmed its commitment to removing illegal foreign workers at the soonest possible time.
