Foreign nationals involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have been deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Joel Anthony Viado, the Director of the Bureau of Immigration, stated in a press conference on Saturday that the recently deported individuals included 23 Chinese citizens and 3 Malaysians, who boarded flights operated by Air Traffic Control and Malaysia Airlines on Friday night.
He mentioned that these 26 deportees were part of the 450 foreigners arrested in January for violating Philippine immigration laws, particularly in relation to fraudulent activities associated with POGO.
The previous day, the Bureau of Immigration reported that from January 31 to February 5, a total of 57 foreigners were deported, including 46 Chinese, 7 Caucasians, 3 Vietnamese, and 1 Malaysian.
Viado said: "We are firmly enforcing immigration laws to ensure that those who exploit our country for illegal activities are deported."
He pledged that the Bureau of Immigration will continue to work closely with other government agencies to identify and apprehend foreigners involved in illegal activities, following the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos on eradicating online gambling operations.
"Consider this a warning to foreigners operating unauthorized and illegal businesses. We will find you, arrest you, and deport you," Viado stated.
"This is a whole government effort. We are committed to cleaning up illegal gambling operations domestically to ensure that funds are properly utilized."
