By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
About 24,000 foreign employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) have already left the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Wednesday.
This represents a significant number of aliens that have left the country out of 33,000 workers registered with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), according to Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
Meanwhile, 8,000 workers have applied for a downgrade of their work visa to visitor’s visa.
“There are only a few left. Less than a thousand are unaccounted for. We will continue to seek them out,” Viado said in a press briefing.
At the same time, he reminded foreign POGO workers that they have until yearend to leave the country.
“After Dec. 31, the bureau would start blacklisting them,” the BI chief said.
On Nov. 5, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order (EO) No. 74, ordering the immediate ban of POGOs, internet gaming, and other offshore gaming operations in the country.
EO 74 covers Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) and other offshore gaming licensees.
The ban on POGOs/IGLs and other offshore gaming operations also encompasses license applications, license renewals, and cessation of operations.
The measure stemmed from reports of POGOs’ involvement in various illegal activities.