MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday warned companies and individuals harboring illegal foreign workers from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) that they will face the full force of the law.
“The Bureau will not hesitate to file charges against anyone found violating Section 46 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement.
Viado reminded the public that harboring illegal aliens is a serious offense.
“We will pursue violators with the utmost resolve,” he said.
The warning followed Viado’s earlier announcement of impending deportation proceedings for more than 11,000 former POGO workers who failed to leave the Philippines before the December 31, 2024 deadline.
These individuals were previously employed by POGO companies whose licenses had been revoked, making their continued stay in the country unlawful.
Viado urged the public to report any suspected violations and assured that all reports would be treated with confidentiality.
“This is not just about compliance; it’s about safeguarding the integrity of our immigration system and ensuring that only those with legitimate purposes are allowed to stay in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, two Chinese passengers who attempted to leave the country with spurious immigration documents were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City over the weekend.
The two passengers – identified as Wang Dingku, 31, and Su Zhengkun, 25 – were intercepted at the departure area of the NAIA Terminal 1 on December 5 before they could board a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Bangkok.
Both are detained at the BI holding facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while deportation proceedings are ongoing.
According to Viado, the Chinese passengers were denied departure and instead arrested after they were found to have entered the country with counterfeit visas.
The passengers presented themselves for departure formalities at the immigration counter when the BI officers who processed them noticed irregularities in the visas impressed on their passports.
The visas were then referred for examination to the BI’s forensic documents laboratory, which later confirmed that the visas were counterfeit.
Ferdinand Tendenilla, BI border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) acting chief, said Wang and Su already underwent a preliminary investigation by BI prosecutors at the bureau’s main office on Monday.
Charges for violating the Philippine immigration act will then be filed against them before the BI board of commissioners which will issue the order for their summary deportation. (PNA)