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BI requires direct flights to home countries on deportation of ex-POGO foreign workers
BI requires direct flights to home countries on deportation of ex-POGO foreign workers
Direct flights to their home countries are now required by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in the deportation of foreigners who worked for the now banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The new policy was adopted due to reports that certain deportees from the Philippines were able to escape when they landed in their stopover destinations.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said on Monday, March 24, that the BI Board of Commissioner has issued Resolution No. 2025-02 last March 21. He said the resolution states that foreigners involved with POGOs can only be deported using direct flights to their home countries except in cases where there exists no direct flights.
The BI said its resolution requiring direct flights for deportations was issued following the Senate hearings where Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian raised concerns about loopholes in the deportation of foreign POGO workers.
"Pinapakita ng polisiyang ito na seryoso ang pamahalaan sa pagsugpo ng transnational crimes at pagpapalakas ng seguridad ng ating bansa (This policy shows that the government is serious in solving transnational crimes and strengthening national security),” Viado said.
“Hindi natin papayagan ang mga dayuhang kriminal na samantalahin ang ating sistema (We will not allow foreign criminals to take advantage of our system),” he declared.
With the resolution, Viado said the BI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have begun working with airlines and foreign embassies to ensure smooth enforcement of the new directive.
“Ang ating mensahe ay malinaw -- kung ikaw ay lumabag sa batas, sisiguraduhin namin na tuluyan kang mapapalabas ng Pilipinas nang walang pagkakataong mapalawak ang inyong sindikato (Our message is clear -- if you violated the law, we will ensure that you will be kicked out of the Philippines to guard against the spread your syndicate),” Viado stressed.
At the same time, Viado said the BI has also been studying additional security enhancements for deportation procedures including tighter coordination with law enforcement agencies abroad.
"This is just the beginning. We will continue reviewing and strengthening our deportation processes to prevent criminals from finding ways to be back into the country or evading justice," he also said.