THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested 76 foreign nationals at a suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO)-related facility allegedly used for online scamming in Quezon City, the agency said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the BI said its Intelligence Division, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines' National Capital Region Command, carried out the operation on Oct. 12 in Barangay Socorro, Cubao.

Initial identification showed that the group consisted of 74 Chinese nationals and two Myanmar nationals, according to the BI.

BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato S. Manahan, Jr. said the foreign nationals were allegedly engaged in online scamming when operatives entered the premises.

The arrested individuals are undergoing inquest proceedings and will face deportation proceedings under Philippine immigration laws, the BI said. Those issued deportation orders will be blacklisted, barring their reentry into the country.

The Philippines outlawed POGO operations in 2024, with officials citing their links to online scams, money laundering, and human trafficking. The ban, ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., required the industry to wind down by the end of that year. POGOs — offshore gaming businesses once licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) — have remained an enforcement focus, and operations such as the one in Barangay Socorro show that authorities continue to move against facilities allegedly still running despite the prohibition.

The completion of the inquest proceedings and the issuance of deportation and blacklist orders are the next steps to watch, as they will determine the timeline for removing the 76 detainees from the Philippines.

— Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Source: BusinessWorld Online