The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will deport at least 11,254 foreign nationals involved in the now defunct Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in the country, who did not leave before the December 31,2024 deadline.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said they are deporting those who did not downgrade and leave the country before the deadline, as well as those who downgraded but stayed behind.
Viado said that out of the 33,863 POGO employees under the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), 24,779 downgraded their visas. A total of 22,609 left the country before the December 31 deadline.
He added that companies are also obliged to surrender their POGO workers who remain in the country, and warned that if they attempt to hide them, they may be sued by the BI for harboring illegal aliens.
“I have ordered our intelligence division to initiate the search for those at large,” said Viado.
“They are considered illegal aliens now. Expect an intensified manhunt against these illegal aliens. The order of the President is clear. No more POGO in the Philippines. Foreign nationals who continue to disobey this will be arrested, deported, and blacklisted. No exceptions,” he warned.
Earlier, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the agency is actively collaborating with various agencies to track down the more than 11,000 workers who are still unaccounted for.
Sandoval noted that finding these workers poses a considerable challenge, as many may be evading authorities or have begun operating small-scale online gaming ventures.
The BI is working PAGCOR and local government units to keep an eye on potentially illicit activities involving these foreign nationals.
President Marcos ordered a complete ban on POGOs by the end of 2024 due to their connections to organized crime and related offenses.
