43 Chinese, 1 Vietnamese involved in illegal POGO deported

The government on Thursday deported 43 Chinese nationals and a Vietnamese national who were involved in the illegal operations of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pasay City.

According to Bam Alegre's report on Unang Balita, the foreigners were deported at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

This is the fifth batch of foreigners who were deported following the arrests by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in October 2023.

The first batch involved 180 Chinese, followed by 21 Vietnamese, five Malaysians, and another three Vietnamese.

The deportees do not have existing cases, while those who are facing cases must first finish their trials.

"May mga violations silang ginawa dito. And others are violating 'yung immigration laws natin," PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said.

(They committed some violations here. And others violated our immigration laws.)

"'Yung iba kasi wala na talagang passports eh. And so nakipag-coordinate pa kami sa mga kanya-kanyang embassies for them to provide 'yung travel authority," he added.

(Meanwhile, others no longer have valid passports. We coordinated with each of their embassies for the travel authority.)

Cruz further said the government has spent P35 million for the upkeep, detention, and flight costs of the deportees.

''Yun ang kabilin bilinan sa amin na kailangan ayusin natin ‘yung treatment sa kanila. So kung mapapansin niyo naman, they were fed properly, they were— even ‘yung everyday na needs nila, ‘yung paliligo nila, ‘yung pagkain nila, and of course ‘yung medical needs nila,” Cruz said.

(That’s what we were told, that our treatment of them should be good. If you noticed, they were fed properly, they were— their everyday needs, their baths, their sustenance, and of course their medical needs were addressed.)

“Wala naman kasi tayo pinipili, whether they are suspects or complainants or victims. Lahat naman yan kailangan, equal treatment, pagdating sa mga needs nila,” he added.

(We’re not biased, whether they are suspects or complainants or victims. We need to treat them all equally when it comes to their needs.)

Meanwhile, Cruz said that the government is seeking to obtain the former POGO establishment through a forfeiture case. 

“We’re looking at— kung manalo ‘yung kaso natin, at least magamit ito, itong mga buildings na ito and even ‘yung mga sasakyan ng gobyerno para sa serbisyo para sa publiko. Like ito, itong building na ito, kung matuloy nga yung forfeiture natin, pwede gawin isang safehouse ito or halfway house nung mga nire-rescue ng DSWD,” he said.

(We’re looking at— if we win our forfeiture case, at least, the buildings and even the government cars could be used to serve the public. For example, this building, if our forfeiture case proceeds, we can turn this into a safehouse or a halfway house for victims who are rescued by the DSWD.)— VDV/RF, GMA Integrated News