Deportation of Chinese nationals a joint PH-China success vs. POGO

MANILA – The deportation of the more than 80 Chinese Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers is a show of "successful joint operation" between Beijing and Manila against the illegal hubs, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Friday.

"On September 6, in line with the consensus to strengthen law enforcement cooperation against POGOs, law enforcement authorities of China and the Philippines repatriated nearly 100 Chinese citizens engaged in offshore gambling in the Philippines," the Embassy said in a statement.

"This is another successful joint operation following Philippine government's announcement of ban on all POGOs," it added.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) earlier said it will deport over 80 Chinese workers who were arrested in its anti-illegal POGO operations in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.

PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio said the deportees will travel to Shanghai, where about half will remain, while the rest will be chartered to Xi'an.

"Almost kalahati, ma-iiwan sa Shanghai. Iyon 'yung galing ng Bamban. Doon sila kinasuhan ng China. Iyong kalahati mahigit papunta ng Xi'an. Iyon 'yung galing ng Porac (Almost half will be stay in Shanghai. They are the ones from Bamban. The other half will transfer to Xi'an, those who came from Porac)," Casio said.

PAOCC's continuous anti-illegal POGO operations are in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s declaration during his third State of the Nation Address in July to ban all POGOs by end of the year. (PNA)