The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said less than a thousand foreign workers of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) remained unaccounted for and will be the subject of manhunt starting January 1 next year.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said around 30,000 foreign POGO workers have already left the country while others are set to leave the country in the coming days.
During the launch of online student visa and permit application, Viado reminded foreign nationals they have only 12 days left to comply with the Philippine government’s directive regarding the cessation of POGO operations.
The commissioner warned that “those who fail to leave before the deadline will be subjected to deportation proceedings and will be blacklisted.”
“As of November, a total of 21,757 foreign nationals associated with POGO operations have voluntarily downgraded their work visas to temporary visitors visas,” Viado said.
“Those who remain in the country by January will be arrested to be deported and included in the blacklist,” he added.
