The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is stepping up its deportation proceedings for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) employees who were illegally working in the Philippines.
BI deputy spokesman Melvin Mabulac said the agency has been coordinating with the respective embassies of the POGO workers facing deportation.
“We are targeting to deport most of them as soon as possible. So we are in close coordination with their embassies for the travel documents they will provide and their ticket to fly out of the country,” Mabulac said at the Laging Handa briefing on Friday.
As of Nov. 17, the BI has so far deported 44 foreign nationals mostly Chinese, out of the 372 who were rounded up in September.
The first batch of six was sent home last Oct. 19, while the second batch of 21 was deported on Nov. 2.
The third group was shipped out last Thursday.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) apprehended the POGO workers in separate raids in Pasig City and Pampanga province two months ago.
