Amid the intensified crackdown on offshore gambling (POGO) in the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration issued an important statement, emphasizing that law enforcement officers are not allowed to arbitrarily arrest foreigners residing illegally in communities or malls.
Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Salvador pointed out in a radio interview: "We cannot conduct door-to-door searches, nor are we allowed to arbitrarily arrest these (illegally residing) foreigners in malls."
According to President Marcos' orders, the Philippines will thoroughly regulate the offshore gambling industry by the end of 2024. As of this Monday, more than ten thousand foreign gambling employees have completed downgrading their visas.
The Bureau of Immigration reiterated that the deadline for applying for visa downgrading is October 15th, after which all work visas of foreign employees of POGO companies will be canceled, and they are required to leave the country within 59 days.
Salvador stated: "If they fail to leave the country by December 31st, we will initiate deportation procedures."
She emphasized that the Bureau of Immigration must obtain a mission order before arresting foreigners, and stated: "We cannot arbitrarily arrest anyone, including Chinese citizens."
Before confirming the legality of a foreigner's identity, a case investigation must be conducted first. She noted: "Our intelligence department will first investigate suspicious foreigners, who will be tracked. If intelligence officers confirm they are residing illegally, only then will the Director of Immigration issue a mission order."
Salvador called on the public to actively report suspicious foreigners to support local law enforcement efforts. She said: "If you spot suspicious foreigners in your community, especially unfamiliar faces related to online gambling, please report them to the Bureau of Immigration in a timely manner, and we will take action."
Furthermore, she also urged local governments to carefully review applications for business licenses to prevent online gambling from masquerading as legitimate businesses. Salvador stated: "A collective effort will greatly help in combating online gambling. Everyone should remain vigilant, and local governments play a crucial role in preventing the spread of online gambling."
