Only 13,000 out of the more than 30,000 foreigners working in mostly Chinese-owned offshore gambling firms have voluntarily downgraded their visas to temporary visitor visas to remain legally in the country until December 31, 2024, the Bureau of Immigration said on Monday.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that foreign workers of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), who fail to downgrade or leave the country by December 31 will be deported or blacklisted.
“Those who failed to downgrade their visas before the October 15 deadline will be included in the BI’s blacklist and arrested, while foreigners who voluntarily downgraded their visas can have a chance to return to visit the country,” he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., earlier ordered foreign POGO workers to leave the country by the end of the year.
Despite the October 15 deadline, the bureau said it would still accept POGO workers to apply for visa downgrading but will be included in the BI’s blacklist.
“However, they can return and visit the country but with some conditions,” he said.
The POGO was banned for their alleged links to crimes, human trafficking and financial scams., and gave the gaming regulator until the end of the year to shut the businesses down.
Thousands of Chinese, Vietnamese and other nationals mostly from Southeast Asia have been illegally recruited with promises of high salaries, but later forced to work in dismal conditions and threatened with severe harm if they disobeyed orders or tried to escape.
Foreign POGO workers who stay in the country beyond the two-month period will be arrested and deported, Viado said.
