Illegal Chinese workers from Tarlac POGO hub deported

MANILA – Chinese nationals engaged in offshore gambling in the Philippines were among the 167 deported on Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said.

The Embassy said this was a result of close coordination between Filipino and Chinese law enforcement authorities and demonstrates the two nations' "strong determination" to jointly combat fraud, kidnapping and other crimes related to offshore gambling.

"The Chinese government has always taken tough measures to combat gambling," the Embassy said in a statement.

"The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines will continue to strengthen practical law enforcement cooperation with the Philippine side, and support the latter in addressing the root cause of crimes related to offshore gambling," it added.

The Embassy underscored that online gambling, cross-border gambling by Chinese nationals, and running casinos outside China to solicit Chinese nationals are illegal in China.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said 167 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, were deported following a successful raid at a "scam hub" in Bamban, Tarlac.

PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, in a television interview, said the foreigners failed to present working visas and passports during the raid at the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) compound.

The official said those directly involved will face human trafficking charges.

Cruz said 40 more Chinese nationals are set for deportation soon. (PNA)