Photo credit: BI

Manila, Philippines—Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado isn’t wasting any time—he wants arrested Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers out of the country as soon as possible.

With President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declaring a total ban on POGOs, the BI has ramped up efforts to deport foreign nationals involved in illegal operations. Viado made this clear after facing the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which questioned the pace of deportations.

One of the key concerns raised? Why deportees are being sent off using tickets with connecting flights instead of direct ones.

“The longer these illegal aliens stay here, the more the government spends on detention costs,” Viado explained. “Our priority is to deport them immediately, so we take whatever outbound ticket is available.”

He stressed that deportation requires three things:
✔ A valid passport or travel document
✔ An NBI clearance (to confirm no pending legal issues)
✔ An outbound ticket

To speed things up, the BI has teamed up with the NBI to fast-track clearances within a day.

“Our goal is simple: get them out of the country as quickly as possible,” Viado reiterated. “Once they’re off Philippine soil, we consider it a successful deportation.”

The BI pointed to a recent case in January, where a batch of deportees was repatriated in just two weeks—proof, they say, of their commitment to efficiency.

“Dragging out deportations only increases government expenses, and we want to avoid that,” Viado added.

Bottom line? The BI isn’t letting illegal POGO workers overstay their welcome.