On the early morning of September 19, Philippine law enforcement agencies took action and deported 91 Chinese nationals back to Shanghai. According to official information, these individuals were suspected of involvement in illegal POGO gambling operations, cross-border fraud, and related criminal activities.
It was initially planned to deport 103 people, including 8 women and 95 men, but due to some individuals' judicial processes not being completed, only 91 were actually deported. The remaining individuals are still in the Philippines, awaiting further advancement of the relevant legal procedures.
The arrests of these involved individuals covered multiple regions in the Philippines, including Metro Manila, Bataan, Laguna, Cebu, and Tarlac among other major areas. The two POGO hubs in Pasig City had the highest number of individuals involved. Records show that in February 2024, 49 people were arrested in a raid, 17 were arrested in Parañaque in the same month, and another 17 were arrested in March in the Bamban area of Tarlac Province. Additionally, some individuals were also involved in illegal mining activities in the northern part of Camarines Province.
The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) stated that this action demonstrates the government's firm resolve to crack down on illegal POGO operations. Authorities believe that some POGO entities have become venues for fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking, and strict measures are needed to rectify these issues.
Due to language barriers, the media was unable to directly interview the deported individuals. Officials revealed that some of the involved individuals still have ongoing cases, and there may be further phased deportation actions in the future.
This action highlights the Philippine government's intensified efforts to combat illegal organized crime activities, especially those related to transnational organized crimes associated with POGOs. Relevant departments stated that they will continue to advance such law enforcement actions to maintain legal order and social safety.
