About 1,000 foreign POGO workers still unaccounted for -- BI
Almost 1,000 foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) remain unaccounted for, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado revealed this as foreign workers of POGOs have only the end of this month to leave the country.
“Kokonti na lang po ‘yung unaccounted for (There are only a few who remain unaccounted for),” assured Viado during a press briefing.
“About less than a thousand ang unacounted for,” he disclosed.
Viado noted that they are around 33,000 foreign workers of POGOs registered with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Among the 33,000, Viado said “nagvoluntary departure po mga 23,000 to 24,000 (there are around 23,000 to 24,000 who voluntarily left the country).”
“But meron pa hong substantial number (But there is a substantial number of workers who still remain in the country),” he said.
“I think mga 8,000 po of the 33,000 (8,000 of the 33,000 are still in the Philippines),” he also said.
He reiterated his warning that those who fail to leave the country will be deported, blacklisted and barred from returning to the Philippines.