Gatchalian chides BI over botched deportation of Pogo bosses
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday chided the the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for allow three bosses of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) — who were supposed to be deported to China — to book their flight and leave the country on their own.
Gatchalian was pertaining to Pogo bosses Lyu Xun, Kong Xiangrui, and Wang Shangle who were the first deportees after authorities raided Rirance company in Parañaque on January 8 where 4,500 Chinese Pogo workers were apprehended.
At the Senate subcommittee on justice and human rights’ hearing on Tuesday, BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan admitted to the chamber that they coordinated with the Pogo bosses and asked them to shoulder and purchase their own tickets.
It was also revealed during the hearing that the three never made it back to China.
“Katangahan yan on our part. Dahil Pogo bosses yan — may mga pera yan eh. May mga connection yan. I’m sure alam din nila kung paano gumalaw at naprove na natin yan sa pagtakas ni Alice Guo na kaya niyang lumipat sa iba’t ibang lugar. At may koneksyon sila, may sumasalo habang gumagalaw siya,” said Gatchalian in a press conference on Wednesday, reacting to the incident.
(That was a stupid move on our part. These are Pogo bosses — they have money. They have connections. I’m sure they know how to move around and we already proved that with Alice Guo’s escape that they can transfer to different places. They have the connections, someone will assist them while they are moving.
“I think common sense na itong mga Pogo bosses, may pera, may koneksyon — ay meron silang kakayahan na tumakas. Kaya in the first place, dapat hindi natin pinayagan na sila ang bumili ng ticket. Dapat sinigurado natin na informed ang Chinese counterpart [at] siguraduhin na pagdating doon ay makukulong,” he added.
(I think it’s just common sense that these Pogo bosses have money, they have the connections — they have the means to flee. That’s why in the first place, we should not allow them to buy their own ticket. We should’ve made sure that our Chinese counterparts were informed and once they are deported to China, they would be jailed.)
Gatchalian said he is not ruling out the possibility that there had been connivance between BI officials and the Pogo bosses, noting the need to fully investigate the matter.
“Hindi mo maaalis sa isipan natin na baka nagkaroon yan ng sabwatan sa loob at we should further investigate this matter dahil again, tatawanan tayo ng buong mundo kung pinapayagan natin itong mga deportees na bibili ng kanilang ticket. Parang nagbakasyon lang sila eh,” said Gatchalian.
(You cannot erase the fact that there might have been connivance. That’s why we should further investigate this matter. Otherwise, we will be a laughing stock to the whole world if we allow deportees to buy their own ticket. It appears like they were just on vacation.)
Following the incident, the senator is urging the BI to be transparent in terms of their deportation activities.
Gatchalian particularly noted the need for the agency to report to the Senate, expressing his plan to file a resolution mandating BI to communicate their proceedings with the chamber.
