PAOCC: At least 30K foreign POGO workers to be deported amid ban

Around 30,000 foreign workers employed in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) are set to be deported following the ban on the online gaming hubs, the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) said Friday.

PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said at least 27 Chinese citizens were deported back to their country as the government started the deportation of POGO employees. The number of affected workers were initially 33 but six of them were put on hold due to existing hold departure orders (HDOs) in various countries.

A total of 1,698 POGO workers have been deported since May 4, 2023.

“So far, ang listahan na meron tayo na galing sa [the list we got from] PAGCOR, for legal workers, there are roughly 30,000…We’re expecting that all foreign nationals that are working in legal POGOs will eventually be repatriated,” said Casio in a public briefing.

“The challenge that we would face ay ‘yung nandun sa mga illegal na POGO…Sa pakikipatukungan ng PAOCC sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno [those working in the illegal POGOs, by working with other government agencies] — DILG, PNP, NBI, AMLC, BI — we’re very confident will be able to deport if not all, at least a good number of them,” he said.

Casio said foreign nationals who are working under illegal POGO firms will be placed under the immigration blacklist and will not be allowed to reenter the Philippines. However, legal workers may be able to return.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., during his third State of the Nation Address, ordered a ban on all POGOs in the country after a series of raids against illegal POGOs revealed equipment used for torture, love scams, and other crimes.

Last week, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said foreign POGO workers will be given at least 60 days to exit the Philippines. All pending and new applications for visas of POGO and IGL employees. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News