OVER 5,000 foreign workers of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) have failed to comply with the government’s order to downgrade their visas.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla warned that foreign workers can no longer work except to process their affairs until their company closes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned POGOs.
Visa downgrading allows foreigners to revert their work visa status to a temporary visitor visa to legally work in the country within a 59-day period. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration reported that over 12,000 foreign workers of POGOs have applied to downgrade their working visas. Marcos previously declared a ban on all POGOs in the country, giving them until the end of the year to close their businesses.
Many of these businesses are involved in illegal activities based on successive raids on POGO hubs by authorities.
Remulla stated that most foreign POGO workers, who are Chinese citizens, do not want to return to their country.
“There are many people who have not voluntarily downgraded their visas. This presents a dilemma to us because it shows that many of them really don’t want to leave the country,” Remulla said.
The secretary reiterated that foreign POGO workers will be considered illegal aliens after December 31, 2024.
