The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported 115 foreign nationals who were found illegally staying and working in the Philippines, as part of the Marcos administration's intensified campaign to protect national security and enforce immigration laws.
According to BI, most of those deported were caught working without proper documents in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry, which has been linked to criminal syndicates, cybercrime, and human trafficking.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the Bureau fully supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to crack down on illegal POGO operations and remove foreigners who violate Philippine laws.
"The President has made it clear: we will not allow foreigners to abuse our immigration laws or exploit our systems for illegal activities,"said Viado.
"These deportations are a strong message that the Philippines will not tolerate lawlessness and that we are serious about protecting our national security," he added.
The deportations were carried out in waves—44 Vietnamese nationals were deported on June 3, followed by 26 Vietnamese and 12 South Koreans on June 4, another 7 Vietnamese on June 5, and finally 25 Vietnamese and 1 Malagasy on June 6. All were placed on the BI’s blacklist, barring them from reentering the country.
The BI is working closely with the embassies of the affected foreign nationals to fast-track the deportation process and ensure compliance with Philippine laws.
Viado added that more mass deportations are scheduled in the coming weeks as part of the government’s ongoing campaign.
Many of those deported were found living or working in POGO hubs tied to organized crime, including online scams and trafficking.
"These operations are just the beginning." Viado said.
"We are cleansing our borders of foreign nationals who threaten public order and national interest."
The BI reminded the public that while the Philippines remains open to legitimate visitors and investors, those who engage in illegal activity will be dealt with accordingly.
"The Philippines welcomes those who follow our rules," Viado said.
"But to those who come here to commit fraud, exploit our people, or break our laws—expect to be arrested, deported, and banned from coming back."
