Latest news with #PhilippineOffshoreGamingOperators
GMA Network
25-07-2025
- GMA Network
1,422 foreigners deported from Jan-June for immigration violations
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday it deported more than 1,400 foreigners from January to June this year for violating the country's immigration laws. Data from the BI showed a total of 1,422 foreigners were expelled from the country for violating immigration laws—a significant increase from the 717 deportees reported during the same period last year. Of the deportees, 231 were Vietnamese, 41 were South Koreans, 41 were Malaysians, and 37 were Burmese. The majority of the deportees were foreigners found to be working in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) firms despite the ban. 'Our strengthened deportation protocols follow the directive of the President to act swiftly and remove foreigners who abuse our people's hospitality,' said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado. 'We will continue expediting the deportation of foreign nationals who violate our laws,' he added. Viado earlier reported improvements in deportation protocols, including fast-tracking clearances in partnership with the National Bureau of Investigation, immediate resolution of cases suspected to be filed under the ''demanda me'' scheme, regular coordination with embassies for swift issuance of travel documents, and opening of a new holding facility for arrested aliens. 2 Sudanese nabbed Meanwhile, immigration authorities apprehended two Sudanese in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, for violating the country's immigration measures. Identified as Moneeb Ahmed Mohamed Yousif, 32, and Zaki Azhari Elzubair Basheer, 41, the suspects were arrested in a residence along M. Soriano St. on Tuesday, July 22. They are now detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig while awaiting deportation proceedings. An initial investigation showed the BI intelligence personnel launched an operation against Moneed after he was found to be staying in the country despite allegedly failing to update his visa. Zaki, meanwhile, was accused of harboring the illegal alien, violating the Philippine immigration laws. The suspects failed to present valid passports or travel documents during the arrest, rendering them undocumented foreign nationals. ''During the arrest, Basheer resisted and hurled expletives at the operatives. While in the premises of the San Carlos City Police Station, he requested to use the restroom but attempted to escape through the back of the building. He was immediately pursued and recaptured by BI agents,'' the BI said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
17-07-2025
- GMA Network
Ex-POGO employee nabbed for human trafficking; 8 Cambodia-bound Pinoys rescued
Authorities arrested a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) worker at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for alleged human trafficking and rescued eight Filipinos headed to Cambodia, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Thursday. In a statement, DMW said the suspect was intercepted on Sunday, July 13, after he attempted to send the victims to Vietnam and then Cambodia to work as scammers. Based on the investigation, the suspect's former Chinese employer ordered him to arrange the documents of the victims. The eight victims were supposed to be the third batch he would send to Cambodia. The suspect was allegedly paid via cryptocurrency for every victim he recruited. He will be facing charges of illegal recruitment and human trafficking. Authorities are investigating whether there are other accomplices in the illegal recruitment. DMW's Migrant Workers Protection Bureau urged other victims to coordinate with the agency through their official Facebook account for legal assistance. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
De Lima seeks tougher penalties for espionage
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima on Monday sought tougher measures against those found spying by increasing the jail term of violators to up to 20 years and the penalties to up to P20 million. House Bill No. 1844 or the proposed Anti-Espionage Act aims to amend Article 117 of the Revised Penal Code on penalties for espionage, which currently provides for six months to six years of imprisonment. The bill states that espionage is committed under the following circumstances: -enters or aids or induces another to enter a warship, fort, or naval or military establishment or reservation or facility or camp or installation, to obtain any information, plans, photographs, or other data whether of a confidential nature or not relative to the defense or security of the Philippine archipelago, or to military training or equipment of the Armed Forces of the discloses their contents to a representative of a foreign nation, foreign national or to criminal indicates or elements to the disadvantage of the Philippines -obtains, receives, gathers, passes, or causes to be obtained, received, gathered, passed, or attempts to obtain, receive, gather, or pass, in any place in the Philippines, information or data concerning any vessel, aircraft, naval station, military camp or installations or facilities, work of defense, military training or equipment, communications equipment or facilities, or other information or data connected with or relative to national defense or security for the purpose of disclosing such information or data to a foreign nation or its representative, or to a foreign national or organization -lawfully or unlawfully having possession of the information or data referred to in the preceding paragraphs willfully communicates, transmits, or attempts to communicate or transmit the same to any person not entitled to receive it De Lima, a former senator, said current laws are not enough to respond to the threats to the country's national security and sovereignty. 'Other threats to our national security, such as the continued harassments and aggressions of China in the West Philippine Sea, the influx of Chinese students in areas near our country's military bases, and the emergence of online gaming hubs operated by Chinese workers located near our military and police camps demand that our security agencies be given all the necessary resources to go after spies operating in the Philippines, especially in areas around our most sensitive defense installations,' she said. De Lima cited the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, who turned out to be a Chinese citizen but was able to get elected in public office even if running for public office requires Filipino citizenship. Likewise, Guo is being accused of being involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)-related crimes within the town. Likewise, the former Justice chief cited the arrest of a Chinese citizen and two Filipino accomplices arrested for reportedly gathering sensitive data around military facilities and vital infrastructures in January, as well as the arrest of five more suspected Chinese spies who were allegedly monitoring Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy activities in Palawan, including the resupply of troops in the West Philippine Sea. De Lima also said the Department of Information and Communications Technology revealed in April 2024 that suspected Chinese companies pretending to be American or European businesses were recruiting active and former Armed Forces of the Philippines members. 'Clearly, there is a dire need to put an end to all kinds of espionage to protect our national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest,' she said.—Llanesca Panti/LDF, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Gatchalian urges crackdown as Pakistan emerges as new transit point for human trafficking
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday expressed serious concern over reports identifying Pakistan as a new transit hub being exploited by human trafficking syndicates to facilitate the illegal deployment of Filipinos abroad. The senator urged the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and other law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts in dismantling criminal networks operating across international routes. 'Reports indicating Pakistan as a new human trafficking route are deeply alarming. The government must act swiftly to put an end to human trafficking,' Gatchalian said in a statement. He also warned that individuals formerly linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) may be behind the illegal operations. 'Malamang na mga taong dating sangkot sa POGO ang gumagawa ng ganitong kriminalidad na nambibiktima ng mga walang malay nating kababayan,' the senator added. The senator's remarks came after four Filipinos were intercepted at NAIA Terminal 3 on July 6 while attempting to fly to Pakistan, where they had been recruited to work as cleaners and a cook in an online gaming compound. The Bureau of Immigration described the incident as a 'dangerous shift in trafficking patterns similar to POGO-like operations.'
Filipino Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Ejercito urges tighter rules on online gambling, citing greater threat than POGOS
Senator JV Ejercito has raised alarms over the increasing risks posed by online gambling, urging the government to implement stricter regulations. According to him, the danger now surpasses that of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos). Ejercito highlighted the ease of access to gambling apps, which are often disguised as entertainment or gaming platforms, making them easily accessible even to minors. 'Anyone can start gambling with just a single click,' he pointed out. He expressed concern about the social consequences of online gambling, including broken families, growing debt, and mental health struggles—especially among young people. The senator also suggested banning e-wallet services that facilitate online betting, saying these platforms make it easier for people to engage in gambling. Unlike Pogos, which largely affect foreigners, Ejercito said online gambling is harming Filipinos directly—workers, parents, and youth—leading to what he calls a gradual decline in society.
