Philippines to deport illegal Chinese workers in Pogos; urges abused workers to file raps

Arrested Chinese workers caught engaged in illegal online gambling in Pampanga. (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will be deporting any illegal Chinese nationals working in Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) in the country, Malacañang said Thursday.

“E pag malaman natin na illegal bakit hindi,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters in a phone patch interview.

Panelo issued the reaction after the Chinese embassy called the Philippine government to “punish” casinos and offshore gaming firms that illegally employ Chinese nationals.

The embassy said Chinese workers had their passports taken away or confiscated while others were subjected to “extortion, physical abuse and torture as well as other ill-treatments.”

“My suggestion then is they should file formal complaints so that this particular concern will be raised in the appropriate agencies of the government so we can properly respond,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

The Palace official assured China that the Philippine government will not be tolerating abuse.

“That is precisely why I am urging them to file formal complaint on any perceived abuses committed against the Chinese nationals,” he said.

“[U]nless there is an official complaint in reference to this, the government cannot do anything.  You have to file a formal complaint on particular instances of violations of their rights,” he added.

The Chinese embassy has expressed “grave concern” that the move of the  Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to move to transfer Pogo workers to “self-contained” communities or hubs “may infringe on the basic legal rights of the Chinese citizens concerned, and strongly urges the Philippine government to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines.”  /muf