PH Government Deports Nearly 1,700 Foreign POGO Workers Amid Crackdown

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has reported the deportation of approximately 1,698 foreign nationals working for illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) since May 4, 2023. PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio shared this update during an interview on the state-run television channel, PTV-4’s “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.”

In the most recent round of deportations, 27 illegal POGO workers were sent back to their home countries. Originally, 33 workers were slated for deportation; however, six were held back due to a hold departure order linked to pending criminal charges. These deported individuals are now blacklisted and barred from re-entering the Philippines.

Casio noted that while illegal POGO workers face a permanent ban, approximately 30,000 expatriates employed by legitimate POGO firms but facing deportation might still have the opportunity to return to the Philippines, provided they have no pending legal cases. “If they are not facing any charges, they won’t be blacklisted from coming back to the country, unless a new policy is enacted,” Casio clarified.

The PAOCC, alongside other government agencies and local units, is working diligently to ensure the swift deportation of remaining illegal POGO workers. A meeting at Malacañang Palace was scheduled to discuss more effective strategies for deportation. Casio expressed optimism about deporting a substantial number of POGO workers, though he acknowledged the inherent challenges in achieving 100% compliance.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address on July 23, mandated the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to halt all POGO operations by the year’s end. Following this directive, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has given POGO workers a 59-day period to exit the country, correlating with the dissolution of their companies and the downgrading of their visas.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval indicated that six Chinese nationals, who were initially part of the deportation list, remain in BI custody pending necessary clearances for their deportation. These individuals must resolve their legal issues in the Philippines before their deportation can proceed.

Source: PNA