BI nabs 32 foreigners in another Pogo hub
Immigration agents arrested 32 foreign nationals during a raid on an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation (Pogo) hub in Parañaque City, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Saturday.
Immigration intelligence division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said the suspects were engaged in online gaming and scam activities, including love scams, conducted in a building within the Aseana enclave on the evening of Jan. 17.
The operation, coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation, resulted in the apprehension of 20 Chinese, 11 Malaysians and one Cambodian after surveillance of their illicit activities.
The 32 foreigners are currently under the custody of the NBI while undergoing deportation proceedings with the BI.
More arrests, deportations
The BI said that more arrests and deportations are anticipated following the nationwide ban on Pogos.
“Let this be a warning to foreign nationals who blatantly continue illegal operations despite the ban of the President. We will not stop until all illegal aliens are arrested and deported,” Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement.
During a raid at a private resort and events venue in Silang, Cavite, on Jan. 15, the BI apprehended 29 foreign Pogo workers, composed of 23 Chinese and six Myanmar nationals.
The raid was led by elements from the BI’s fugitive search unit and Anti-Terrorist Group, in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
The BI said deportation proceedings have also been initiated against the 29 foreigners involved in operating the illegal online gaming facility.
Serendipitous catch
Viado said the raid stemmed from an operation to capture a Chinese fugitive suspected of hiding at the resort, although the fugitive was not present during the operation.
“I issued a mission order for the operation after the BI received an intelligence report that the referenced Chinese fugitive was at the resort where illegal Pogo activities have been reported,” he said.
Agents reportedly caught the foreigners in the act, working at various computer workstations used for online gaming operations.
The immigration chief added authorities are investigating the possibility of filing charges against the renters of the resort for harboring illegal aliens.
“If during our investigation, we discover that they have knowingly harbored these illegal workers, then they will face cases for violation of the Philippine immigration law,” Viado said.
Section 46 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 prohibits harboring illegal aliens, with violators facing up to 10 years in prison.
