5 Pogo workers nabbed in back-door exit try

INQUIRER file photo/Alexis Corpuz

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested five blacklisted workers under the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo), who were previously tied to the raided Lucky South 99 Corp. in Porac, Pampanga, after attempting to leave the country illegally.

In an operation conducted by the bureau’s intelligence division and fugitive search unit, authorities arrested Chinese nationals Ying Guanzhen, 31; Yang Jinlong, 29; Liu Xin, 28; Shen Kan, 36; and Luo Honglin, 27, at Zamboanga International Airport on March 22.

READ: NBI charges 13 Pagcor ‘enablers’ of Pogo scams

Lucky South 99

The BI in a statement on Saturday said two of them are fugitives wanted in China, while all five were previously linked to Lucky South 99, a Pogo company that was raided in June 2024 for alleged illegal activities.

The bureau said it received information from government intelligence sources that the group was intercepted while attempting to flee the country through an illegal exit route from Tawi-Tawi to Malaysia, using a “transporter” to evade authorities.

Locals define a “transporter” as an individual who arranges the unauthorized travel of people from the Philippines to neighboring countries.

However, their escape was foiled by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao authorities when their boat encountered engine trouble near Languyan Island, Tawi-Tawi.

Upon verification, immigration officials confirmed that all five individuals were blacklisted and had violated the terms and conditions of their stay.

Following this, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado ordered their immediate arrest.

The arrest was carried out upon their arrival in Zamboanga City from Tawi-Tawi, with police officers escorting them.

They were informed of their immigration violations and later turned over to the Philippine National Police for safekeeping, pending a preliminary investigation by the BI legal division.