THE Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Thursday the deportation of 21 more illegal employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the second batch of deportees comprised of 21 Chinese nationals who left the country on board a Philippine Air Lines flight to Wuhan, China.
The illegal workers were escorted by operatives from the BI’s Warden Facility Protection Unit, Border Control and Intelligence Unit and Intelligence Division.
The BI earlier reported that it would implement the deportation of more than 300 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese citizens, who have been arrested by local law enforcement agencies for involvement in illegal online gambling.
An initial batch of six Chinese nationals was deported last October 19.
The government has announced the cancellation of visas of close to 50,000 POGO workers to avert further criminal activities and possible spread of sexually transmitted diseases being attributed to the POGO industry.
However, the DOJ said they are also looking at extending amnesty to illegal POGO workers and other undocumented aliens.
The DOJ said the continuous deportation operation is poised to implement the government’s policy to crackdown on illegally operating POGO companies who no longer give any benefit to the government and who instead have been the source of criminal activities.
“Following the intensified deportation operation of illegal POGO workers, we have seen a decrease reported crimes related to the POGO Industry,” it said.
The DOJ assured that it would remain consistent with its objective of ending the illegal POGO industry in the country.
As of September 14, the DOJ said data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation showed there are 175 POGOs with canceled permits.