BI starts deportation of 29 foreigners for illegal online gaming

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has initiated deportation proceedings against 29 foreign nationals, comprising 23 Chinese and six Myanmar citizens, who were apprehended for operating an unlicensed online gaming establishment in Silang, Cavite.

The individuals were arrested during a raid conducted by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) at a private resort.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado confirmed that the foreign nationals will face immigration violation charges, leading to potential deportation orders and a blacklist from re-entering the Philippines.

The arrested individuals were reportedly using laptops and mobile WiFi devices for their operations, a method described as a 'guerilla POGO' operation.

While the PAOCC holds the physical custody of the apprehended foreigners, they remain under the BI's legal custody for the deportation process.

The BI is also considering filing charges for harboring illegal aliens against the renters of the resort, who may face up to 10 years in prison if found to have knowingly harbored the illegal workers.