THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported another batch of Chinese nationals who previously worked in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facilities that have been shutdown by the government.
The workers boarded a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight bound to Shanghai, China last Tuesday.
The POGO workers have been under the custody of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) since they were apprehended and charged by the BI for violation of immigration laws.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado thanked the PAOCC for their strong partnership in the campaign against illegal foreign workers, saying: “We are grateful to the PAOCC for their continued support in identifying and apprehending illegal POGO workers who undermine our laws and threaten public order.”
He stressed the importance of the deportation. “Their removal sends a clear message that the Philippines will not be a refuge for foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality and violate our laws,” he said.
Viado also reiterated the agency’s commitment to work with other government agencies to end illegal POGO operations in the country.
“This is part of our broader effort to dismantle the illegal POGO ecosystem. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with our partners to protect our borders and restore integrity in immigration processes,” he said.
