The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday revealed that Xu Shiyan, the Chinese national detained last 21 May, has possible connections to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

The arrest was carried out in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to step up the crackdown on illicit offshore gambling businesses and criminal foreign nationals.

Melody Penelope Gonzales, head of the BI’s Mindanao Intelligence Task Group, reported to BI Commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado that Xu is also an incorporator of the Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corporation.

Among the incorporators of the said company is Antonio Lim, who was also reportedly known as Tony Yang, who had previously been scrutinized by legislative bodies for his involvement in POGO operations in the Philippines.

BI said that authorities found in Xu’s possession several Philippine documents, including birth certificates, Philsys slips, SSS forms, UMID forms, Postal ID, TIN ID, driver’s license, and a COMELEC registration slip, all bearing Xu’s details.

It can be recalled that in 2024, Tony Yang was already arrested by the BI for allegedly misrepresenting himself as Filipino.

In 2024, Phil-Sanjia was suspected of engaging in illegal POGO operations following a Senate hearing.

“We will not tolerate foreign nationals abusing our systems, falsifying their identities, or using Philippine documents to hide their tracks. The Bureau is completely committed to supporting the President’s campaign to rid the country of criminal elements associated with illegal POGOs,” Atty. Viado remarked.