100K POGO workers yet to be deported — BI

Some 100,000 workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have yet to be deported, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

This was reported through Senator Grace Poe, who is defending the proposed budget of the BI during the Senate plenary deliberations on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill or the proposed measure containing the country's spending plan.

"There are a hundred thousand POGOs (workers) that have yet to be deported," said Poe, chairperson of the Senate finance committee.

Citing BI's latest data, Poe said 1,370 POGO workers have been deported and 1,172 have been repatriated.

The figures were provided after Senator Raffy Tulfo asked how the BI ensures that POGO workers who are departing the Philippines have already met their obligations in the country.

"Paano po natin na-pa-process 'yung paglabas ng mga POGO people, POGO workers especially, kung halimbawa ay 'yung mga 'yon ay may naiwan pang mga responsibilities, kung 'yun ay mga employers at meron pa silang responsibilities sa mga employees? At kung 'yun ba ay may mga kaso, paano po natin nalalaman yun? Paano po natin na-de-determine before we let them go?" Tulfo asked.

(How do we process the exit of the POGO workers, especially if they are employers who still have responsibilities to their former employees? How do we determine if these POGO workers have pending cases before we let them go?)

In response, Poe said the BI is currently downgrading the working visas issued to foreigners who were employed in the POGO industry so they can stay in the Philippines until the cases against them are resolved.

"'Yung mga nakuha na POGO workers, 'yung mga rescued, siyempre may kanya-kanyang kaso sila. In the meantime, dina-downgrade 'yung visa nila kasi sa ngayon, mayroon silang parang mga work permit so na-downgrade 'yun habang dinidinig 'yung kanilang mga kaso individually kung sila ba ay ire-repatriate o ide-deport," Poe said.

(The rescued POGO workers are facing cases individually. In the meantime, the visas or work permits that were issued to them are being downgraded so they can stay here while the cases against them are being heard to determine if they will be repatriated or deported.)

Last September, the BI said it would be expediting the exit application for foreign workers employed in POGOs, which are now known as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs).

POGO workers were given until Oct. 15 to voluntarily downgrade, and those who would not do so would be ordered to leave the Philippines within the next 59 days or face deportation proceedings by Dec. 31.

As of Sept. 24, BI said that they have downgraded 5,955 visas with over 55% having already left the Philippines.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July announced the ban on POGOs, and ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to wind down and stop all operations by the end of the year.

Last week, the President signed Executive Order 74 banning POGOs and internet gaming licenses, and other offshore gaming operations in the country. — VDV, GMA Integrated News