THE Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) revealed on Monday, February 24, that some Chinese Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers who were scheduled for deportation have escaped while their flights to China were on layover.
“It’s true. We’ve received numerous reports about this,” stated PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio in a DZBB interview. “We’re appealing to the deportation implementation unit of the Bureau of Immigration to refrain from issuing implementation orders when the tickets of foreign nationals undergoing voluntary deportation or subject to deportation orders have layovers.”
Casio further explained, “Especially when it’s China, departing from Manila, direct flights are available to China. Layovers are unnecessary. They use these layovers as opportunities to escape.”
He clarified that the Chinese Embassy pays for the plane tickets of Chinese nationals arrested in the Philippines. However, in cases where the PAOCC mandates deportation of POGO workers, the government books direct flights and provides escorts throughout the journey.
For voluntary deportations or those with deportation orders, Casio explained that smaller groups are not escorted once they reach the boarding gates at NAIA.
When asked about the number of foreign POGO workers who have escaped during layovers, Casio stated that they couldn’t provide an exact figure but insisted that the reports are “solid and verified.”
He also disclosed that the Chinese Embassy has communicated with the PAOCC, urging them to prevent connecting flights for arrested foreign nationals. “The Chinese Embassy contacted the PAOCC and appealed to us, and they also wrote to the BI, to stop this practice because their foreign nationals are escaping,” Casio said.
“It’s disheartening to think that some Chinese nationals have access to methods they shouldn’t have access to,” he added.
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun issued a call for the Philippines to eradicate POGO operations.
“We urge the Philippines to completely eradicate the scourge inflicted by offshore gambling as soon as possible. China stands ready to work with the Philippines to jointly combat crimes and we also call on the Philippines to conduct law enforcement in a just manner and ensure the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals in the Philippines,” Guo stated.
