BI bans layover flights for POGO-related deportees

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has banned deportation flights with layovers for foreign nationals involved in crimes related to Philippine offshore gaming operations.

Under BI Board of Commissioners Resolution No. 2025-002 issued on March 21, 2025, deported individuals must now be placed on direct flights back to their home countries unless no direct routes are available.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado emphasized that this resolution addresses a critical loophole exploited by deportees and aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive of a total POGO ban following Senate hearings led by Senators Hontiveros and Gatchalian.

The bureau is coordinating closely with the Department of Justice, airlines, and foreign embassies to ensure smooth enforcement while studying additional security enhancements for deportation procedures.

Commissioner Viado noted that removing layovers would lower opportunities for deported individuals to expand their operations in other countries within the Asian region, citing a recent case where three POGO bosses were deported directly without layovers.