The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has agreed to expedite the issuance of clearances to foreign former workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) who are facing deportation, according to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado.
Viado revealed the agreement on Monday, emphasizing that both the NBI and the BI share the goal of ensuring that the foreign nationals leave the country as quickly as possible.
Under Philippine law, deportation requires three essential documents: a valid passport or travel document, an outbound ticket, and an NBI clearance confirming the foreigner has no pending legal accountability in the country.
To streamline the process, the BI’s Deportation and Implementation Unit has coordinated with the NBI to issue clearances within a single day.
The government’s top priority is to deport the arrested foreign nationals in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive banning POGOs from the Philippines.