The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that some workers from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) who were previously arrested have been "recycled," as they were re-arrested in different establishments across the country.
In an interview on Magandang Umaga Pilipinas on Wednesday, BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval revealed that these employees managed to transfer to other establishments even after being apprehended.
"I think there were peope who are able to move out, yung premises na 'yon ng pagkakahuli sakanila ang they were transfered to different POGO hub. Even mga Filipinos parang ikot lang sila ng ikot," said Sandoval.
When asked how these individuals were able to work again despite being considered aliens in the country, Sandoval explained that the physical custody of the arrested individuals remains with the arresting agencies, which often lack adequate facilities.
"Sabay po 'yan. May processing ang immigration but the physical custody remains with the arresting agencies kung sino po yung lead agency doon sa arrest na 'yun. Yon po ang magtatago o magbabantay doon sa mga naaresto," she noted.
"Prior to deportation, kasi ang procedure po natin diretso deport na. Tapos ang deportation proceedings kapag kumpleto na po lahat ng dokumento diretso deport na nila," she added.
Sandoval also pointed out that most of the apprehended POGO workers are undocumented aliens or overstaying.
"'Yun nga po ang nagiging problema nakikita po namin sila sa ibang mga establishment or yung susunod na raid, it happened before po at nagiging difficulty po 'yan namin," said the Immigration Spokesperson.
Her statement came after at least 132 foreigners were rounded up at a suspected illegal POGO hub or scam farm in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on August 31.
According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the apprehended foreigners included 81 from Indonesia, 47 from China, three from Myanmar, and one from Taiwan.
