Philippines Immigration Bureau (BI) spokesperson Dana Sandoval stated at a presidential press conference that, to date, Philippine law enforcement agencies have arrested 518 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) activities, with 121 of them already deported.
Sandoval revealed that in the coming weeks, more batches of foreign nationals will be deported, but the actions are limited by the progress of travel documents, outbound tickets, and customs clearance procedures. She emphasized that the Immigration Bureau is coordinating with relevant agencies to expedite the process and ensure these individuals leave the country as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) reported that there are still 337 foreign nationals housed in PAOCC-managed facilities, waiting for deportation or repatriation.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio pointed out that the main obstacle to the deportation actions is that some foreign nationals' one-way travel documents, passports, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance procedures are not yet complete. The government is actively advancing related procedures to accelerate the deportation process.
Deportation statistics (from January 2025 to present)
518 people — arrested
121 people — deported
150 Chinese citizens — waiting for deportation
45 people — approved for voluntary deportation
Several batches of foreign nationals — waiting for travel documents and customs clearance
The Philippine government has recently intensified its crackdown on illegal activities related to POGO and continues to push forward with deportation actions to curb the spread of the illegal gambling industry and maintain social order.
