The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) stated that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has begun investigating the 549 foreigners arrested during the recent two raids on illegal offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the Philippines.
According to PAOCC, a special prosecutor investigated 147 foreigners arrested at an offshore gaming company center in Barangay Don Galo, Parañaque City on February 27, and 402 people arrested at One Wheels Apartments in Pasay City on March 7.
"Despite President Marcos's ban last year, all these foreigners are charged as undesirable aliens because they worked in the illegal offshore gaming business in the Philippines," PAOCC said in a statement.
The agency mentioned that among the 549 foreigners, 18 are also facing additional charges for alleged violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
PAOCC stated that apart from the 18 foreigners facing charges, all foreigners will now undergo summary deportation, with Chinese citizens being repatriated via government-funded chartered flights.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz stated that authorities are accelerating the deportation process to prevent overcrowding in detention facilities.
"We are very anxious as we are now approaching a critical point. There are already 899 foreigners detained," he said.
