At Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, a flight to Shanghai slowly ascended, carrying 100 Chinese citizens involved in illegal gambling and cyber fraud. This marks the Philippine government's largest recent mass deportation. The scene was moving, with many Filipino spouses tearfully bidding farewell, and young children looking bewildered as their parents were escorted away, seemingly not understanding what this sudden separation might mean.
The deportees were arrested in early 2025 in places like Kamaynilaan, Parañaque, and Pasay, involved in illegal gambling, telecommunications fraud, and money laundering. It is understood that the dens were often disguised as technology parks, but were actually "scam factories" for cross-border crime, closely linked to the underground POGO organizations.
This operation was led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), with full cooperation from the Chinese embassy. PAOCC Deputy Director Gilberto Cruz emphasized at the scene that this was an important step in cleaning up the POGO cancer, demonstrating the Marcos administration's determination to combat cross-border crime.
However, behind this seemingly tough crackdown, a complex domestic and international game unfolds. On June 16, a US Congressional delegation visited PAOCC to discuss issues such as money laundering, social media scams, and human trafficking, expressing concerns about the illegal spread of POGOs in the Philippines. This signifies the Philippine's attempt to shake off the stigma of being a "scam hotbed" in Southeast Asia through multilateral cooperation.
More concerning, however, is a brewing storm of corruption within the Bureau of Immigration. The chairman of the special investigation, Lepiso, publicly accused the director Joel Villado of accepting 30 million pesos in bribes, illegally releasing three Chinese executives involved, and even hinted at the involvement of the president's wife. He pointed out rampant issues like "green-lighting" and "drawer-pressing" cases in the immigration bureau, which had long been eroded by a "small circle culture."
In the execution of systematic deportations, the public also questions "selective operations": many key suspects issued deportation orders, including former town mayor Guo Huaping, still remain in the country. Who gets deported and who receives protection seems not entirely determined by law, but rather a contest of money and power.
As of now, the Philippines has arrested over 4,000 individuals involved, including more than 2,500 foreigners, most of whom have not yet been deported. Although the immigration bureau claims that the process has been accelerated, observers note that the real decision on who stays or leaves may not be procedural efficiency, but the "invisible games" behind the scenes.
The storm is far from over. The POGO issue in the Philippines is not just about eradicating underground gambling, but also a political trial intertwined with systems, power, and international pressure. The cleanup may have just begun, and the "dealer" controlling the game has not yet truly appeared.
