MALACAÑANG yesterday ordered the deportation and blacklisting of the 42 foreign nationals who were arrested in the raid conducted by law enforcement operatives at an alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bagac, Bataan.
In a memorandum dated November 12 addressed to Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Crispin Remulla and Bureau of Immigrations (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, directed the DOJ and the BI to “facilitate the summary deportation of the foreign nationals apprehended and subsequently transferred to the temporary detention facility in NASDAKE Building… and blacklist said individuals to bar their re-entry into the Philippines subject to appropriate laws, rules and regulations.”
The foreign workers were apprehended during the raid on Central One, which Bersamin said has been by authorities as an “illegal POGO masquerading as a business process outsource.”
Reports said that among those arrested was an Indonesian national who was wanted in his country for alleged scamming activities, money laundering and online gambling.
Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia has earlier assailed the PAOCC raid at the Central One Bataan PH facility and particularly questioned the way how the workers were treated.
“In the name if justice, we cannot allow any institution to act with a heavy hand and bring distress upon our law-abiding citizens without a thorough and cautious approach,” Garcia said in a privilege speech last Monday.
The BI released the arrested foreign workers with Garcia acting as their guarantor.
Garcia said the employees “were seeking to be rescued from the PAOCC itself because of the latter’s abusive conduct.” He added that the experiences of foreign workers “was even more harrowing, they were labeled undesirable aliens despite possessing necessary papers such as alien employment permits, and investors’ visa.”
