By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday encouraged foreign employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) to comply with the government’s call to leave the country, especially those who have families here.
BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval urged the workers to follow the regulations, so as not to be blacklisted and barred from returning to the country.
“That’s the advice that we are giving. If they have reason to come back to the Philippines, they have a wife, they have a child here in the Philippines, they should comply with the regulations. They should go out of the country as part of the downgrading and order to leave, and they may return if they have a reason, a legitimate reason to return to the Philippines,” she said at a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
“Because if they don’t leave, they didn’t comply with the regulations, they will be blacklisted, meaning they will be prevented from re-entering the Philippines. And it will be even more difficult for them to reunite with their families,” Sandoval said.
The Bureau official said they expect some 6,000 POGO workers, whose visas have already been downgraded, to leave the country until Dec. 31.
“We keep saying, there is no extension of the December 31 deadline. We expect them to leave the country in the next few days. Because if they don’t leave after December 31, then they will be subject to blacklisting – deportation proceedings,” she said.
POGOs in the country must cease operations by Dec. 31, under Executive Order (EO) 74 signed by Marcos in November.
The EO orders a total ban on Philippine offshore gaming, Internet gaming, and other offshore gaming operations in the country. (PNA)
