35 Indonesians in Cebu POGO hub deported

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-five Indonesians were deported from the Philippines after they were found working in a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firm in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported.

The nine men and 26 women between the ages of 20 and 30 left the Philippines on Oct. 22 and have been blacklisted by the BI, which will prohibit them from entering the country again.

They were among the over 100 foreign nationals who “engaged in illegal online gaming operations within a resort” in Barangay Agus in Lapu-Lapu City, which was raided by the BI on Aug. 31.

During the raid, authorities discovered “makeshift workstations” used for their online gaming and scam activities.

Following an order from President Marcos to close and ban POGOs in the country by the end of the year, Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado declared the BI “remains committed to upholding the President’s directive to ban such activities, and we will continue to work closely with other government agencies to ensure that those involved in illegal operations are brought to justice.”