BI nabs 36 foreigners in Pasay raid

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) rounded up 36 foreigners after it raided an alleged illegal online gaming company at the Double Dragon Plaza Tower 3 in Pasay on Monday afternoon, an official said yesterday.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said they conducted an investigation after the bureau’s intelligence division received reports of the presence of undocumented foreigners.

The 32 South Koreans, two Chinese and two Indonesians arrested during the raid will be held at the BI’s detention facility in Taguig upon the release of negative RT-PCR test results.

Morente said the arrested foreigners have allegedly been working in the Philippines without the proper working permits.

“We coordinated with (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. or PAGCOR) and verified that this company is unlicensed and has no authority to operate,” Morente said in a statement sent to reporters yesterday.

He said a license from PAGCOR is a requisite for online gaming companies to operate in the Philippines.

BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said that they initially rounded up 40 foreigners, but they freed four others after they had shown documents proving they are permanent residents in the Philippines.