The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has agreed to expeditiously issue clearances to foreign nationals facing deportation after being arrested for working at illegally operating Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
“We all want the same thing -- for them to leave our country as quickly as possible,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado on Monday, Feb. 24.
Viado explained the deportation procedures require three essential documents -- a valid passport or travel document, an outbound ticket, and a NBI clearance to confirm that the foreigner has no pending accountability in the Philippines.
Thus, he said, the BI’s Deportation and Implementation Unit has coordinated with the NBI for the expedited issuance of clearances within a single day.
He also said the BI’s top priority has been the deportation of these arrested aliens pursuant to the directive of President Marcos to ban POGOs from the Philippines.
“The longer they stay in the country waiting for schedules, the longer the government shoulders the cost of their detention,” he pointed out.
“We take whatever is available because our priority is to send them out of the country at the soonest possible time,” he added.