Illegal POGO workers’ visas canceled

Illegal POGO workers’ visas canceled | Daily Tribune

The government has canceled the visas of 48,782 Chinese nationals working in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation companies whose permits to operate had either been canceled or revoked by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said it was determined by the Bureau of Immigration through Commissioner Norman Tansingco that the cancellation of the visas of the POGO workers would be the most "cost-efficient" and "humanitarian" approach to send them home.

Some lawmakers have called for the termination of POGO operations in the country due to kidnapping, murder and other crimes committed by some of their workers.

Remulla said the department is aware of the effects that the operation to deport the said illegal workers may have on the economy, apparently referring to condominium and other housing unit operators catering to the sector.

"However, given the many reports of murder, kidnapping and other criminal activities, the social cost of keeping illegal aliens heavily outweighs the projected effect it will have on the affected industries. Even so, the Department will be sure to coordinate with the national economic team to counter any negative effects on the country," Remulla said.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that upon receipt of the information from PAGCOR, the agency immediately started cross-checking the employees of POGO companies with whose authority to operate had been revoked to determine who among them are still in the country

Laborious task

"While this is a laborious task as we have to check each and every record, we are confident that this could be completed in a month," he added.

Tansingco stated that as an effect of the visa cancellation, the aliens will be ordered to leave instead of being deported.

"This is the regular procedure for canceled visas, and this is actually more economical and faster, as the costs for their departure will be shouldered by the aliens themselves," he stated.

Tansingco said aliens are given 59 days to depart the country. However, if these POGO workers would not voluntarily leave the country, then deportation proceedings would be initiated against them, he added.

The BI expects the cancellation of visas to be finalized in batches and warned those whose visas will be canceled to depart the country lest they face deportation.

The agency assured foreign nationals with valid visas and who are complying with Philippine laws that they would not be affected by the move.

Summary deportation

Remulla said 372 Chinese and other foreign nationals who are already in custody after being arrested by either the National Bureau of Investigation or the Philippine National Police are set to be deported in several batches.

The 372 in BI's custody were rounded up in separate operations of the NBI and PNP in Pasig and Angeles last September. Tansingco said out of the 372 arrested, 331 are Chinese nationals.

However, 43 of the total number have been physically turned over to the BI, while the rest remain in the physical custody of the arresting agency.

He said the BI's Board of Commissioners has already issued a Summary Deportation Order for the 372 and are finalizing the arrangements for their departure.

Under BI's procedures, deportees must not have a pending case in the Philippines and must possess a valid travel document.

The government has coordinated with the NBI and the Chinese Embassy, requesting the expeditious release of the required documents.

After completing the documentation, Tansingco said their departure can be scheduled, with the costs to be shouldered by the deportees.

With Anthony Ching