The Chinese Embassy in Manila stated on Friday (September 6) that the deportation of over 80 Chinese workers from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) demonstrates a "successful joint operation" between Beijing and Manila in combating illegal gambling centers.
The embassy said in a statement: "On September 6, in accordance with the consensus to strengthen law enforcement cooperation between China and the Philippines against POGO, law enforcement agencies from both countries jointly repatriated nearly 100 Chinese citizens engaged in offshore gambling in the Philippines."
The statement added: "This is another successful joint operation following the Philippine government's announcement of a comprehensive ban on all POGO."
The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) earlier stated that it would deport over 80 Chinese workers arrested in anti-illegal POGO operations conducted in Tarlac's Bamban and Pampanga's Porac.
PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio stated that the deported individuals would be sent to Shanghai, with about half of them staying in Shanghai, while the rest would be sent to Xi'an.
Casio said: "Nearly half of the people will stay in Shanghai. They are from Bamban, where they were prosecuted by China. The other half will go to Xi'an, coming from Porac."
The ongoing anti-illegal POGO operations by PAOCC align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos's announcement in his third State of the Nation Address in July, declaring a complete ban on all POGO by the end of the year.
