The Philippine government is taking decisive action against 187 Chinese nationals linked with POGOs.
The Philippine government is taking decisive action against illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) by deporting 187 Chinese nationals. These individuals were arrested for immigration violations and ties to POGO gambling hubs.
The deportation is part of President Marcos Jr.'s crackdown on POGO, which aims to shut down all operations by January 1, 2025. Authorities are also filing criminal charges against those who continue to operate illegally.
“Sa January 1, ito yung simula namin sa pagtugis, dun sa mga naiwan, mga nagge-guerilla, yung mga matitigas na ulo na hindi tumigil sa kanilang POGO operation. Itong pagtugis nito, kasama na yung pagpa-file natin ng criminal cases for violation nung Cybercrime Law,” Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission chairman Gilberto Cruz said.
(Starting January 1, we will begin our pursuit of those who remain, those who are operating like guerrillas, and those hardheaded individuals who refuse to stop their POGO operations. This pursuit will include filing criminal cases against them for violating the Cybercrime Law.)
The Chinese nationals were detained in October and had their working visas downgraded to tourist visas, making their stay in the Philippines unlawful. They were arrested in various locations across the country, including Lapu-Lapu City, Pasay City, Tarlac, and Pampanga.
A second group of individuals from other nationalities is scheduled for deportation next week.
“Yung iba dito, talagang walang dokumento nung nahuli natin. Violation ito ng kanilang condition of stay sa Pilipinas bilang dayuhan at yung iba dito talagang hindi nakapagpresinta ng tama o walang naipresinta na kaukulang dokumento nung sila ay sinita namin (Some of them didn't have any documents when we caught them. This is a violation of their conditions of stay in the Philippines as foreigners. Others failed to present proper or any relevant documents when we checked on them),” Cruz said.
President Marcos Jr. banned POGOs through Executive Order 74, citing exploitation concerns. While some lawmakers raised doubts about the order's clarity, the government remains committed to fighting human trafficking and aiding victims.
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