MANILA – The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines called the “joint operation” between Chinese and Philippine authorities “successful” after the deportation of approximately 80 Chinese citizens engaged in illegal offshore gambling (POGO) in the country.
“This is another successful joint operation following Philippine government’s announcement of ban on all POGOs,” the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.
The deportation on Sept. 6 (Friday), is “in line with the consensus to strengthen law enforcement cooperation against POGOs,” the embassy added.
Earlier on Friday, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) deported an estimated 80 Chinese nationals found to be working for illegal POGO hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.
The move comes after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced during his third State of the Nation Address last July the banning of all POGO operations in the country.
In reports from PAOCC, the Chinese nationals were brought to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from a building in Pasay City early Friday morning.
According to the PAOCC, half of the illegal POGO workers will be flown to Pudong, China; while the remaining Chinese nationals will be boarding a separate chartered flight from Shanghai to Xián.
PAOCC also confirmed that two of their officials flew with the Chinese nationals, together with two personnel from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), two from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and two from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
According to PAOCC Spokesperson Winston Casio, more than 1,700 illegal POGO workers have already been deported by PAOCC, while 300 more will be sent back to China in the coming days.
