PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz (FILE INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said the foreigners are mostly Chinese involved in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) and illegal mining activities.
“By next week, baka magpadeport kami ng 200… May Porac, Bamban, the Pasay raid na ginawa natin malapit sa Senate, and then we also have yung nahuli natin sa illegal mining activities sa Surigao and Bicol,” said Cruz in a media forum in Malate.
(By next week, we might deport 200 [foreign nationals]… [There are those who came from] Porac, Bamban, Pasay raid near the Senate, and then we also have those we arrested for illegal mining activities in Surigao and Bicol.)
Meanwhile, Cruz said that there are about 700 arrested foreign nationals staying in holding centers in Pasay.
The PAOCC added that it was a former Pogo hub transformed into a detention center.
After President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. announced the ban on Pogos in his 3rd State of the Nation Address, the Bureau of Immigration previously reminded foreign Pogo workers who have downgraded their visas to wrap up their operations in the country.
Cruz said that the national government will intervene if the local government will not cease operations of Pogos after their yearend deadline.
“After the deadline, may massive campaign para totally yung mga naiwan, yung mga ayaw talaga, automatic ‘yan, huhulihin na lang ‘yan, ipapasara ‘yan,” Cruz added.
(After the deadline, we have a massive campaign so those who are left here, and those who refuse [to leave], they will automatically be arrested and their operations will be closed.)
Aside from investigating and raiding Pogo hubs, Cruz said the Paocc is likewise going after illegal mining activities involving Chinese workers.
He said that PAOCC also needs to address other issues especially if it concerns the environment.
“Yung nagiging problema don, pag yan nagkaroon ng landslide. Number two, our waters are being contaminated… Yung mga chemical na ginagamit nila, bumababa sa rivers yan… Ang mabigat don, yung mga indigenous peoples mawawalan ng tirahan,” he added.
(The problem is if it will create a landslide. Number two, our waters are being contaminated… The chemicals being used pollute the rivers and worse, damage the communities of indigenous peoples.)