Illegal POGO workers deported number to 1,698: PAOCC

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Authorities guard a raided Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) hub in Pasay City on Nov. 6, 2023. (PNA file photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – Around 1,698 foreign nationals working in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) firms have so far been deported, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Friday.

“As far as the PAOCC is concerned, 1,698 na po ang ating napa-deport magmula noong (about 1,698 have been deported since) May 4, 2023,” PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview aired over state-run PTV-4.

Casio said the latest batch of deported individuals included 27 illegal POGO workers.

He said the initial number of foreign workers to be deported was 33, but a hold departure order was issued against six of them because of criminal charges.

He said the illegal POGO workers who have already been deported could no longer return to the Philippines since they are “blacklisted.”

Casio, however, clarified that roughly 30,000 expatriates working in legitimate POGO firms but facing deportation may still go back to the country.

“So, we’re expecting that all of the foreign nationals who are working in legal POGOs, they would eventually be repatriated or they would eventually be allowed to go home to their country or asked to go home,” he said.

“Kung wala ho silang mga kaso (If they are not facing any charges), they won’t be blacklisted in coming back to the country, unless a policy will be released by the national government na lahat ng mga galing sa mga (that all from) IGL (İnternet Gaming Licensees), the former POGOs, will be blacklisted,” Casio added.

Casio expressed confidence that with the help of concerned government agencies and local government units, “at least a good number” of POGO workers would be deported to China.

He said a meeting would be held at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Friday afternoon to discuss “effective” ways to ensure the immediate deportation of POGO workers in the country.

“Kami po talaga ay kumpiyansa na malaking porsyento doon sa ibinigay natin sa listahan ang mawawala. Pero syempre (We are really confident that a large percentage of what we have given in the list will be deported. But of course), just like any other law enforcement problem, hindi naman po iyan siguro natin kakayanin ng (we may not be able to handle it) 100 percent,” Casio said.

Casio said the government would continue to exhaust all efforts to ensure the immediate deportation of all foreign POGO workers.

In his third State of the Nation Address on July 23, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to cease operations of POGOs by the end of the year.

The Bureau of Immigration said all POGO workers have 59 days to leave the country, upon the dissolution of their companies and filing for the downgrading of their visas.

‘Awaiting clearance’

In a message to reporters, Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said there is no definite date yet on the deportation of the six other Chinese nationals as they are still “awaiting appropriate clearances” before deportation.

The six Chinese nationals are back under the custody of the BI.

Earlier, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said these Chinese nationals would need to resolve their pending cases in the Philippines and obtain appropriate clearances before their deportation can be implemented. (with Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)