Instead of deportation, PH moves to cancel visas of 48,000 Chinese POGO workers

If the Chinese POGO workers do not voluntarily leave the country within 59 days after their visas are canceled, deportation proceedings will be initiated against them

The Marcos administration decided to terminate the visas of 48,782 Chinese nationals working in Philippine offshore gaming firms which have lost their authority to operate, instead of deporting them immediately.

This means that the Chinese workers have 59 days from cancellation of their visas to heed the Philippine government’s order to leave the country. Failure to do so would result in deportation.

Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said immigration authorities determined that canceling the visas of the workers for Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) would be more cost-efficient and humanitarian.

“The department is aware of the effects this operation may have on the economy. However, given the many reports of murder, kidnapping, and other criminal activities, the social cost of keeping illegal aliens heavily outweighs the projected effect it will have on the affected industries,” Remulla explained.

Source: https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippine-government-moves-cancel-visas-thousands-chinese-pogo-workers-october-2-2022/