It was announced on Friday that 84 Chinese nationals working in POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) will be repatriated back to China. They are among the employees caught at POGO sites in Bamban, Tarlac; Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; Pasay; and Parañaque City.
According to the PAOCC (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission), they themselves handled the deportation process at NAIA Terminal 1. This is part of the government's extensive measures to crack down on illegal POGO operations in the country.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said the workers were undergoing a 45-day quarantine before the final assessment by Chinese authorities. They will decide whether any criminal charges will be filed against them upon their return to China. Cruz added that they are not considered victims in China, but may be held responsible.
This is said to be part of the POGO 1,000 program where the government plans to deport 1,000 POGO workers. So far, 200 have been deported, and there are 800 left to follow.
Meanwhile, a Filipina named Mae, the wife of one of the deportees, expressed her thoughts. According to her, she is sad and anxious because she does not know when they will meet again. She said that her husband used to be a chef at a Chinese restaurant and was just offered a job at POGO by a friend. She said she hopes that her husband will be released soon from China and be together again.
President Marcos Jr. previously issued a total ban on POGOs related to human trafficking, money laundering, online scams, kidnapping, and murder.
