Phl deports 70 Chinese nabbed in POGO raids

Seventy Chinese nationals nabbed during a recent raid on a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Pasay City were deported to China yesterday, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

-  RUDY SANTOS

The group left in the morning on Philippine Airlines fl ight PR 336 bound for Shanghai from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, PAOCC chief Gilbert Cruz said.

The deportation was done in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration.

Cruz said a total of 75 Chinese were arrested during the Pasay City raid but fi ve with pending cases in local courts have to remain for the time being. Immigration offi cials processed the documents of the deportees before they were allowed to enter the NAIA Terminal 1 for their 10:20 a.m. fl ight to Shanghai.

According to PAOCC, many top executives of POGOs were able to elude authorities and managed to leave the Philippines.

“We have many ports, legal and illegal, throughout the Philippines. We cannot account for some of the private ports built by people who have resources,” Cruz said.