100 Chinese nationals deported from PH as POGO crackdown continues

On Tuesday morning, 100 Chinese nationals were deported from the Philippines as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) and scam hubs.

The deportees departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on a flight bound for Shanghai, China, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

These individuals were apprehended in four separate raids conducted since last year in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; Silang, Cavite; Parañaque City; and Pasay City.

The Chinese government paid for their travel expenses without any layovers, facilitating the deportation process.

Since the crackdown began, approximately 4,000 former POGO workers have been arrested while around 2,500 have been deported.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs in the country effective July 22, 2024 after raids against illegal POGOs revealed equipment used for torture, love scams, and other crimes.

Some of those being deported are reportedly involved in cybercrime, scamming, fraud, and money laundering cases that have caused significant financial losses to victims.