The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said that less than a thousand foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) remained unaccounted for and will be the subject of a manhunt starting January 1, 2025.
BI Chief 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 applications, Viado reminded that foreign nationals 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,” he said.
The BI earlier deported 34 illegal foreigners who were charged with violating immigration laws.
The deportees boarded a Philippine Airlines flight to Xiamen, China, and were previously arrested by authorities in Royal Corporation Xisheng IT, Lucky South 99 Outsourcing, and Royal Park.
All the foreigners faced multiple charges, including being undocumented, overstaying, working without proper visas or permits, and working for companies other than their petitioners.
Rep. Brian Yamsuan of Bicol Saro party-list group meanwhile urged fellow lawmakers to approve a measure that aims to impose harsh penalties of up to six years in jail against illegal foreign workers, to deter their involvement in unlawful activities and prevent them from taking jobs meant for Filipinos.
Yamsuan issued the call following reports confirming the presence of Chinese nationals illegally working in mining sites in Eastern Samar and Camarines Norte.
The measure—House Bill (HB) 1279–would also help deter “guerilla” POGOs from thriving in the country, Yamsuan said.
Besides jail terms, HB 1279 also provides for a substantial increase on the fine imposed on foreigners found to be illegally working here–from the current P10,000 to P50,000 for every year, or a fraction thereof, of unlawful employment. Under the bill, employers who hire foreigners to work illegally in the country face fines of up to P200,000 and the possible suspension or closure of their businesses.
Yamsuan pointed out that the illegal mining operations uncovered in the town of Paracale in Camarines Norte and Homonhon Island in Eastern Samar may be “small-scale” at this time, but even the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has expressed concern over the possibility that foreign workers could be illegally working in other mining sites across the country. The DENR had uncovered in October an illegal mining operation in Paracale, Camarines Norte, where 11 Chinese posing as tourists were arrested, while the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported last month that it had nabbed 13 Chinese working in illegal mining sites in the Eastern Samar island of Homonhon.
