MANILA, Philippines — More than 10,000 visas of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) foreign workers have already been downgraded their visas, the Bureau of Immigration announced.
The latest figure is on track for the October 15 deadline for voluntary compliance. It is a significant increase from the 5,955 visas downgraded as of September 24.
The bureau said that it expecting an increase in visa downgrades as the deadline nears.
"We are expediting the downgrading process to comply with the President's directive. We encourage POGO workers to file as early as possible to avoid complications," newly appointed Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement.
On September 28, the bureau said over 3,000 POGO workers had voluntarily left the country after their visa downgrade.
It also said that it would expedite the process of downgrading the visas by implementing on-site processing on POGO company sites.
This was implemented days after the Department of Justice said all specialized visas issued to foreign POGOs would be downgraded to tourist visas starting October 16 in order for them to leave the country in 60 days.
Failure to leave the country after a visa downgrade will result in deportation.
In his State of the Nation Address back in July, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a complete ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in response to reports of illegal activities linked to these online gambling hubs in certain areas.
Authorities uncovered unlawful POGO operations in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac, Pampanga, which allegedly involved cases of torture, debt bondage, kidnapping and human trafficking.