Over 300 Chinese nationals are to be deported in the last week of September or next month due to illegal employment in POGO or overstaying, as the Philippine government also intends to investigate more illegal POGO workers and POGO operations.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) said that the first batch of over 300 Chinese nationals who are also illegal employees and have lost their jobs because of the closure of over 175 Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firms is scheduled to be deported by the end of September or next month.
The Chinese nationals in the batch are those who are overstaying and those who are working in POGOs that have stopped paying their dues to the government.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that he had a meeting with the embassy officials to discuss procedures for the summary deportation of 300 Chinese POGO workers already overstaying in the country.
Remulla added that the department is still exchanging information with the Chinese embassy on how the deportation will be done, especially the requirements of both countries in terms of the Covid-19 protocols. He further emphasized that both countries must follow protocols while deporting their citizens.
Remulla also noted that they still need to verify the identities of all Chinese nationals and validate facts regarding their stay in the Philippines before proceeding with the deportation, but he assures the public that the DoJ will follow the law in transferring the illegal aliens out.
“Hopefully by the end of this month or first week of October we can start (deporting Chinese nationals). And there will be more than 300. I think we have to move on others also at a proper time,” Philippine Star quoted Remulla.
DOLE would do inspection
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) should conduct labor inspections on all POGO enterprises to ensure compliance with Philippine labor regulations.
Deputy Speaker and TUCP Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza further emphasized that DoLE should also focus on the POGO employees’ rights and occupational health and safety.
The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, which is an alliance of labor groups and workers’ organizations, backed the TUCP's appeal to the government to treat foreign employees humanely, particularly those in the POGO industry.
Crimes involving POGO
There have been crimes related to POGO that also involved Chinese nationals. One of them is the kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) activities from 2017 to 2019 during the time of Duterte.
Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who is also the chairman of the dangerous drugs committee of the House of Representatives, revealed data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) that there were 31 KFR cases involving Chinese nationals during the period.
“And most of the cases transpired in the vicinity of the so-called ‘Entertainment City’ where casinos and online gaming are located,” Barbers added.
Barber also disclosed that there had been indications in the past that Chinese drug syndicates are using internet gambling sites as fronts for illegal trafficking based on police reports.
Remulla said that the Philippine government will crack down on more illegal POGO workers and investigate reports on other POGO operations that are not part of the list of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
The Philippine government should be alert especially in terms of border controls to prevent the entry of undesirable aliens.
POGOs in the country are used as camouflage in their entry, so it is best to reform and study the legal POGOs’ regulations to prevent fraudulent activities to happen, and for DoLE to partner up in this situation and conduct labor inspections.
Tags: #DoJ, #POGO, #PAGCOR, #POGOCrimes, #Chinese