THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it will prioritize and expedite the deportation of foreigners involved in illegal gaming operations in the country.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado made the statement following the call of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for a total ban against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.
Viado explained that deporting these POGO operators will be prioritized by the agency, while clarifying the use of flight tickets for their deportation.
“The longer they stay in the country waiting for schedules, the longer the government shoulders the cost of their detention,” according to Viado. “We take whatever is available because our priority is to send them out of the country at the soonest possible time.”
The BI chief explained that for deportation procedures to progress, they need three important documents: a valid passport or travel document, a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to ensure that these individuals have no pending accountability, and an outbound ticket.
To hasten the proceedings on deportation, the BI Deportation and Implementation Unit (DIU) coordinated with the NBI to fast track the processing of clearances within one day.
“We all want the same thing—for them to leave our country as quickly as possible,” according to Viado.
The BI pointed to an earlier case back in January wherein a group of deportees were quickly sent back to their country of origin within only one week, proof of the agency’s commitment for their speedy deportation.
“If we can do it fast, we will find ways to do it even faster,” Viado added.