Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian has let loose some scathing words for the Bureau of Immigration (BI) following the escape of three Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) bosses, enabled by a “foolish” deportation process.

According to a report by RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas, the POGO bosses who were deported had bought their own tickets to China and chosen a flight with a layover to HongKong, where their immigration records end.

Chinese nationals arrested for their involvement with POGOs know they will face punishment once in China, where such activity is illegal, so it is expected that they will run off when given the opportunity, said the senator.

The POGO bosses’ flight should have gone straight to Beijing, he added.

(So I think it’s common sense that these POGO bosses, who have money, connections, have the ability to escape. Which is why, in the first place, we should not have allowed them buy tickets. We should have ensured the agency’s Chinese counterpart was informed. In pictures I’ve seen of others who have been deported, when they get there, they’re in handcuffs. Straight into jail. This should have been the case here.)

Seeing how the deportation process was mishandled, Gatchalian said he could not rule out the possibility that it was an inside job, and believes the Department of Justice (DOJ) and BI must launch a probe into the issue.

“We should further investigate this matter dahil, again, tatawanan tayo ng buong mundo kung papayagan natin ‘tong mga deportees na bibili ng kanilang ticket. Parang nagbakasyon lang sila eh,” he said.