MANILA—In a significant development, approximately 3,000 foreign workers previously employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have exited the Philippines after their visas were downgraded, the Bureau of Immigration announced on Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the “Task Force POGO Closure,” which includes members from the Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the Bureau of Immigration, reported that as of September 24, a total of 5,955 visas have been downgraded. This adjustment has led to about 55 percent of those affected already leaving the country.
Joel Anthony Viado, Officer-in-Charge Commissioner of the BI, stated during the task force meeting that teams have been actively engaging with POGOs—now rebranded as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs)—to ensure compliance with the new visa regulations. This includes conducting on-site downgradings and issuing exit clearances.
The Department of Labor and Employment is also involved in these operations, collecting surrendered alien employment permits from the workers. This concerted effort by various government agencies aims to streamline the exit process for foreign POGO workers and ensure that all regulatory and legal frameworks are adhered to.
The government has set an October 15 deadline for all foreign POGO workers to voluntarily downgrade their visas. Those who fail to comply by this deadline will be ordered to leave the country within 59 days. Beyond this period, those remaining illegally will face deportation proceedings starting December 31.
Further complicating the immigration landscape, the BI also reported the arrest of two South Korean nationals on September 26 for attempting to extend their tourist visas with derogatory records. The individuals, identified as Lee Wonwoong and Huh Hwan, were apprehended during routine checks and are now awaiting deportation proceedings.