BI deports 26 more illegal aliens, vows continued deportation of POGO workers

In response to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s order to end illegal offshore gaming operations in the nation, the Bureau of Immigration announced it had another batch of illegal aliens engaged in illegal POGO activities.

According to the Bureau, those deportees were part of the 450 foreign nationals apprehended in January for violating Philippine immigration laws, particularly those linked to illegal POGO-related scams.

On Friday evening, a total of 26 deportees, consisting of 23 Chinese nationals and 3 Malaysians, boarded Philippine Airlines and Malaysian Airlines flights.

BI Commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado reaffirmed the government's determination to combat illicit POGO operations. It's only the beginning.

"We are determined to enforce immigration laws and make sure that those who use our nation for illegal purposes are driven out," he said.

Atty. Viado stressed that there would be more deportations and arrests.

"This should serve as a warning to foreign nationals who participate in unlawful and unauthorized activities — we will track you down, apprehend you, and return you to your home country," he added.

In order to find and detain foreign individuals engaged in illicit activity, the BI continues to work closely with other government agencies.

"The government as a whole is working on this. We are dedicated to removing unlawful POGOs from the nation and making sure that the rule of law is upheld," the BI chief disclosed.