By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday reported that 57 foreign nationals, majority of whom are Chinese, have been deported in the last five days.
In a statement, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the deportees were sent back via several flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Jan. 31 to Feb. 5.
The deportees include 46 Chinese, seven Myanmar nationals, three Vietnamese and one Malaysian.
He added that the recent deportees are part of the 450 foreign nationals arrested in January for violating Philippine laws, particularly those involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) activities.
“We will not allow foreign nationals to abuse our immigration system. Those who break our laws and insist on continuing illegal POGO activities in the Philippines will be arrested and swiftly deported,” the BI chief said.
“Under the leadership of President Marcos and with the full support of the Department of Justice, we are resolute in ridding the country of these undesirable aliens,” he added.
The crackdown is particularly focused on foreign nationals involved in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators, which have been linked to human trafficking, cyber fraud, and other criminal enterprises.
Viado warned that those who took advantage of the country’s hospitality to run illicit operations will not be spared as authorities are working closely to identify, arrest, and remove foreign nationals engaged in criminal activities. (PNA)
