Recently, the Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines raided Central Bay Plaza in Parañaque City, arresting more than 30 foreigners.
This operation was not coincidental. After receiving intelligence, the Bureau immediately conducted a thorough search of several floors of the building under a special Mission Order. Unfortunately, it seems someone had tipped off the offices—some offices were quickly emptied before law enforcement arrived.
Despite the "tip-off," the Bureau still managed to arrest over 30 foreigners. These included citizens from China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. What's more, most of the detainees lacked proper identification documents, and some did not even have visas!
Most intriguingly, two Chinese citizens claimed to work for a company that sells products through e-commerce platforms like TikTok, Lazada, and Shopee. However, the Bureau's investigation found that their visa registration addresses did not match their actual places of work, suggesting a "legal facade" to cover illegal activities.
This raid is just the tip of the iceberg in the Philippine government's intensified actions against POGO operations. From PBcom to RCBC to Central Bay Plaza, more and more "black industries" are being exposed and eradicated. For Chinese nationals working in the Philippines, this is undoubtedly an escalating storm.
What's more worrying is the recent instability in Philippine politics. Following the arrest of Duterte, a large number of supporters took to the streets to protest, leading to nationwide riots. For many Chinese in the Philippines, this is not just a matter of policy crackdown, but a deterioration of the living environment.
