MANILA – Eighty-four Chinese nationals who were apprehended from illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) were deported back to China on Friday.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio said the deported Chinese nationals were from the raided POGOs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.
“Almost kalahati maiiwan sa Shanghai. ‘Yun po ‘yung galing ng Bamban. Doon po sila kinasuhan ng China, eh. ‘Yung kalahati naman mahigit papunta ng Xi’An. ‘Yun po ‘yung galing ng Porac, Pampanga,” Casio said.
Casio added that a total of 88 Chinese nationals were supposed to be deported to China, but four were offloaded as some had new preliminary hold departures (PHDOs) issued against them.
“Na-lift na kasi nung Bureau of Immigration ‘yung PHDO na ‘yun, then meron na naman nag-file ng kaso para magkaroon ng hold departure order,” Casio said.
“’Yung ibang mga kasamahan siguro nila kinakasuhan siguro sila para hindi natin sila ma-deport. Cleared na sila the other week then all of a sudden hindi na naman sila cleared,” he added.
Casio said that the government is spending P200,000 to P250,000 per month as humanitarian assistance for their witnesses and other individuals.
As of Friday, a total of 1,777 foreigners have been deported out of the country while 309 are waiting to be deported./PN
