MANILA -- More arrested Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers will be deported in the coming days, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI). 

Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said they have scheduled a new round of deportation in the coming days.

He did not specify the number to be deported, but noted that around 450 foreign nationals were arrested at the start of 2025.

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“Kung wala ho silang lehitimong rason para nandito sa bansa, aarestuhin po at idi-deport. As a matter of fact, at the start of the year, meron ho kaming mga naaresto, around 450 at nakapag-deport po kami ng more than a hundred in two weeks time,” Viado said in a television interview.

“Mayroon pa po naka-schedule in the coming days na mass deportation po na mga nahuli ho doon,” he added. 

The immigration chief noted that  more than 22,000 POGO workers have “voluntarily departed” the country, while the movement of the remaining 11,000 are being monitored.

“It’s a whole-of-government approach gaya po ng mandato po na ibinigay sa atin ng Pangulo, ang mga iba-ibang agencies involved in this matter, PAOCC, PNP, NBI, BI, meron ho kaming mga pag-uusap constantly para ho matunton kung nasaan ho itong mga tao na pong ito,” Viado stated. 

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