The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported 57 foreign nationals who were among the 450 people arrested last month, following the government’s stepped-up crackdown on former foreign employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) who were allegedly hiding in the country since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. completely banned the operation of POGOs.
Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that of the 57 deportees, 46 are Chinese while the rest are from Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
The BI said in a statement that the deportees were sent back to their home countries through various flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on February 5.
Sandoval said that the BI is working with local government entities, law enforcement agencies, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission to hunt down former POGO workers.
She warned individuals and businesses against harboring undocumented immigrants because doing so could result in legal repercussions under immigration rules.
Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the agency reaffirms its zero-tolerance stance against foreigners who exploit the country’s hospitality through illegal activities.
The BI emphasized that foreign nationals engaging in unlawful POGOs and crimes including cyber fraud, human trafficking, and other criminal businesses are the target of the crackdown.
The BI also vowed d to continue its mass deportation operations in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, promising more arrests in the coming months.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “BI deports 57 POGO workers”