TWENTY-ONE more Chinese working in illegal online gaming outlets in the country were deported last Wednesday, the Bureau of Immigration said yesterday.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the group left the country on board a Philippine Air Lines flight to Wuhan, China.
“We will ensure that those involved in illegal activities will be deported and blacklisted. This is to create a safe space for foreign nationals who comply with immigration policies are here in the country legally,” Tansingco said, adding another batch of illegal Chinese POGO workers will also be deported soon.
“We are in close coordination with the Chinese Embassy for the expeditious release of the deportees’ travel documents,’ he added.
Last October 19, six illegal Chinese POGO workers were initially deported.
Last month, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the BI had canceled the visas of 1,424 Chinese working in illegal POGO outlets. Remulla said the BI is set to cancel the visas of 48,782 Chinese working in illegal online gaming outlets.
Those who refuse to voluntarily leave the country after 59 days will be “summarily deported.”
Remulla, however, said they are also looking at extending amnesty to illegal POGO workers and other undocumented aliens.
The DOJ acknowledged that there are Chinese POGO workers who have reached out to authorities inquiring if they will be allowed to stay in the country if they transfer to legal POGO operators.
As of September 14, the DOJ said data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation showed there are 175 POGOs with canceled permits, meaning they are doing it illegally if they are still operating.
The controversy generated by the presence of Chinese working in illegal POGOs hogged the limelight last month after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he was told by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian that Beijing has placed the Philippines in its “tourist blacklist” due to the continued operations of POGOs.
