MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-five more Chinese, who worked illegally in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), are set for deportation a few weeks after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported the first batch of six on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
Remulla yesterday said the 25 were part of the 400 workers, whose employment status and records are being processed by authorities before they will be sent back home.
The deportation might take some time due to the determination process being conducted by the Chinese government to ensure that these illegal workers are the ones in the deportation papers of the Philippine government, he said.
“Kailangan mayroong permit ‘yung China para tanggapin nila ‘yung mga taong ide-deport natin. ‘Yung kanilang identity papers ang mahalaga at saka ‘yung kanilang travel papers para ma-isyuhan sila ng ticket,” he said, detailing the permit and papers needed in the deportation process.
The BI, an attached agency of the Department of Justice, on Wednesday deported six Chinese workers affected by the closure of illegal POGOs.
Remulla said the first batch paid their own fare as stated under the “order to leave” issued by the BI.
He said they are faced with the challenge of identifying 400 more Chinese under the custody of Philippine authorities.
He gave assurance that the government would not stop sending these Chinese back to their country, and the long process of biometrics gathering and issuing of identity papers continues, as well further arrests.
Remulla said the Chinese would face charges in China where the country’s legal system will determine their violations.
‘Let POGOs stay’
It would help Filipino workers a lot if the government decides to keep the POGOs despite calls for their closure due to the accompanying social ills, an official of the Department of Labor and Employment said yesterday.
“Filipino workers cannot get the salary they are receiving from POGOs from any local employer. Among the 17,000 are the waiters etc. The helpers receive at least P10,000 a month,” Rosalinda Pineda, chief of DOLE- Local Employment Bureau, said.
Pineda clarified that this was her “personal opinion” after Antipolo Rep. Reynaldo Acop asked about her personal stand on the issue, wherein she initially begged off since the question is better addressed to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).
Pineda told Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting that in case POGOs are totally banned, the DOLE has several adjustment programs and interventions in place to help the workers, including their families.
A group of Filipino workers employed in POGOs, along with their service providers, have asked lawmakers on Wednesday not to ban the online gaming platform, saying this will adversely affect the livelihood of local workers.
Paul Bongco, spokesman for the Association of Service Providers and POGOs, and his fellow lawyer Michael Danganan urged the House committee on labor headed by Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles to keep POGOs in the country. – Delon Porcalla