The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported a total of 115 foreign nationals last week who were found to be illegally staying and working in the country.
The move is part of the government’s drive to ensure that the Philippines is not used as a sanctuary for undocumented aliens, particularly those involved in illicit operations.
Most of those deported were arrested for working without proper documentation in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry, which the government has been working to dismantle due to its links to criminal syndicates, cybercrime, and human trafficking.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the Bureau remains firm in its support of the government’s crackdown on illegal POGO operations and the removal of foreign nationals who violate immigration laws.
“The President has made it clear: we will not allow foreigners to abuse our immigration laws or exploit our systems for illegal activities,” Viado said. “These deportations are a strong message that the Philippines will not tolerate lawlessness and that we are serious about protecting our national security.”
The deportations were carried out in waves: 44 Vietnamese nationals were deported on June 3; 26 Vietnamese and 12 South Koreans on June 4; 7 more Vietnamese on June 5; and 25 Vietnamese and 1 Malagasy on June 6. All were placed on the BI’s blacklist, barring their return to the Philippines.
Viado said the bureau is working closely with the embassies of the concerned foreign nationals to speed up deportation proceedings and ensure full compliance with Philippine laws. He also noted that more mass deportations are expected in the coming weeks.
Many of those deported were found in POGO hubs linked to various forms of organized crime, including online fraud and human trafficking.
“These operations are just the beginning,” Viado said. “We are cleansing our borders of foreign nationals who threaten public order and national interest.”
The BI reiterated that while the Philippines welcomes legitimate visitors and investors, those who engage in illegal activities will face the full force of the law.
