BI urges 11K foreign POGO workers still in PH to surrender

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday urged more than 11,000 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) foreign worker who have yet to leave the Philippines to surrender to authorities. 

“The best way na sumuko sila kesa hanapin pa sila. Sumuko sila so they can be deported in a more quiet way. Ilalabas na lang sila, wala ng fanfare,” said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval.

(The best way is for them to surrender rather than us hunting them down. If they surrender, they will be deported in a more quiet way with no fanfare.)

Sandoval said that out of the 33,863 foreign nationals, a total of 22,609 have already exited the Philippines. This means that 11,254 foreign POGO workers are still in the country.

“More than 11,000 foreign nationals are up for deportation dahil sa pananatili after the December 31 deadline set by the national government…This is a bit challenging for the bureau dahil napakarami nito,” explained Sandoval. 

(More than 11,000 foreign nationals are up for deportation due to staying after the December 31 deadline set by the national government...This is a bit challenging for the bureau because there are so many.)

“Ang ginagawa natin ngayon is partnering with other law enorcement agencies — PAOCC, PNP NBI, LGUs — para matunton natin,” she added. 

(What we are doing now is partnering with other law enforcement agencies — PAOCC, PNP NBI, LGUs — so that we can find them.)

'Forever'

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the operations will be conducted nationwide. 

He said they are also not implementing any deadlines.

“It’s an ongoing thing forever. Kasi kung sabihin mong, you have one week. After that one week, baka mag relax na ‘yan. Basta every week, basta tuloy-tuloy ‘yun. We have to be vigilant about it,” he said in a separate interview.

(It’s an ongoing thing forever. Because if you say you have one week, after that week, they might start to relax. It needs to be consistent every week; it has to keep going. We have to remain vigilant about it.)

“Actually, by the end of the month, we will require them to submit certificates of no POGOs in their localities,” he added. 

Remulla warned that there will be no tolerance for local government officials who get involved in illegal POGO operations.

“Walang makakatakas. Walang makakatakas sa atin. No tolerance, zero tolerance, basta nagkamali kayo, pasensyahan na lang,” he said.

(No one will escape. No one will escape us. No tolerance, zero tolerance; if you make a mistake, then that's just how it is.)

Ban

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in July last year banned all POGOs after several such businesses were implicated in crimes, including human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and money scams.

In November 2024, Marcos issued Executive Order No. 74, which states that the ban on POGOs and internet gaming licenses shall encompass illegal offshore gaming operations, license applications, license renewals, and cessation of operations.

Sandoval reiterated that after the deadline, the POGO employees are considered illegal aliens and are now subject to deportation and blacklisting. If they would refuse to surrender, she said a manhunt operation will be conducted against them. 

An interagency has also been formed—composed of BI, the Department of Justice, DOLE, and others—to oversee the closure of POGOs and assist affected workers.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation earlier announced there would be no POGOs operating in the country by the end of 2024. 

—with reports from Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News