DOJ spox: Visas of 1,424 illegal POGO workers cancelled
JUSTICE Department spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano on Wednesday revealed that the Philippine visas of some 1, 424 illegal Chinese workers employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have already been cancelled
“Yung mga ibang empleyado na employed pa din doon sa mga illegal POGOs ay mga 1,424 na po ang nakansela na visas. So itong pagkansela ng visas nagbibigay ho kami ng 60 days para umalis sila ng bansa,” Clavano said during the Laging Handa press briefing.
Last week, Clavano said that cancelling the visas of illegal POGO workers is more cost-efficient than deportation.
“Dahil kung tayo, ang gobyerno mismo ang magdedeport ng mga Chinese national, mahal masyado. We will have to shoulder the flight, we have to shoulder the food and accommodation habang nandito pa sila sa bansa. Second, mas humanitarian siya, well leave it up to the deportees to leave on their volition voluntarily para hindi na tayo mag aaresto ng Chinese nationals. So those are the two reasons: one more economical and two it’s more humanitarian, ” he said.
The POGO industry had its heyday in the early years of the Duterte administration, but it’s growth was marred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
POGOs are online gambling firms that operate in the Philippines but cater to customers outside the country. To operate legally, they must be licensed by PAGCOR.
