Philippine authorities have deported 115 Chinese nationals apprehended during raids on illegal offshore gaming operators (POGOs). While the country has moved to shut down legal POGO operations, the discovery of illegal hubs continues, fueling controversy over the potential abuse of the visa-free entry policy for Chinese tourists by criminal syndicates.
According to the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) and local media outlet Philstar on the 8th, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported the 115 individuals via a China Southern Airlines chartered flight on the 6th.
Those deported include 62 individuals captured last month in Zamboanga Sibugay and 53 arrested in Cubao, Quezon City. The raids in these two locations took place on October 2nd and 12th, respectively. They departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila following the bureau's deportation orders. These figures represent the number of individuals deported in this specific instance, not the total number apprehended in each raid.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that the bureau would strengthen coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies to combat illegal POGOs, online scams, and transnational crimes.
The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines also announced on the 7th that over 100 suspects involved in gambling and fraud were repatriated the previous day through bilateral cooperation. According to the embassy, more than 2,600 suspects have been repatriated through joint efforts since 2023.
POGOs were businesses that provided online gambling services to overseas clients. The Philippine government decided to implement a total ban due to associated criminal activities, mandating that even licensed operators cease activities by December 31, 2024. However, raids on illegal online gambling and fraud hubs have persisted even after the ban.
Senate Hearing: "Approximately 87 Chinese Nationals Entered Visa-Free"
The management of the visa-free entry system has also come under scrutiny.
According to a report by Journal News Online on the 7th, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag testified at a Senate hearing that among the 291 individuals found at the Zamboanga Sibugay POGO hub, approximately 87 had entered the country visa-free.
Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to strengthen monitoring and oversight to ensure that visa-free entry benefits for tourism are not exploited by illegal POGOs and fraud syndicates. In the same report, a foreign ministry official clarified that the 14-day visa-free stay for tourism and business purposes does not authorize local employment.
It is important to distinguish between the 291 individuals mentioned at the hearing, the figures previously announced by the Bureau of Immigration, and the number of those recently deported. The Bureau of Immigration previously announced the apprehension of 244 foreigners in two Zamboanga Sibugay locations on October 2nd. As it is unclear if the reporting scopes align, these figures cannot be directly compared or aggregated.
Claims of '1% Non-Departure Rate' vs. Illegal Gambling Involvement
Statements regarding the non-departure rate of Chinese nationals entering visa-free have also surfaced.
According to GMA News, Philippine Ombudsman Samuel Martires claimed in a radio interview that approximately 1% of Chinese nationals who entered during the first two months of the visa-free policy did not return to China.
However, based on the reported statements alone, it is difficult to verify the exact scope of the investigation, the reference dates, or whether the permitted stay duration had expired. Furthermore, the claim that they did not return to China does not automatically equate to illegal overstaying or involvement in illegal POGOs within the Philippines. Therefore, the '1%' figure cannot be interpreted as the government-confirmed rate of illegal overstaying or criminal involvement.
The recent deportations and hearings demonstrate that even after the total POGO ban, illegal operations and the management of foreign residents remain significant challenges. The Philippine government's response is evolving from simple raids and deportations toward a more comprehensive approach involving international cooperation and the verification of actual activities versus stated entry purposes.
