PAOCC says 947 foreign offshore gaming workers still awaiting deportation
Operations against offshore gaming operators have been suspended due to overcrowding in detention facilities.
The Philippines.- Winston Casio, an official from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), has reported that 947 foreign offshore gaming operator workers are in the agency’s detention facility in Pasay waiting to be deported. Law enforcement operations against an estimated 9,000 illegal offshore gaming workers have been put on hold due to overcrowding.
According to The Philippine Star, Casio said that 29 Indonesians were deported on Saturday (29 March) and more deportations are expected in the coming days. He said the government is considering utilising an additional building in Pasay, which is currently undergoing forfeiture proceedings.
In addition to overcrowding in detention centres, the detention of offshore gaming workers costs the government money to provide medical and dental care, medication and laboratory services to those in need. The government allocates PHP2m (US$34,900) monthly for food and medical supplies for the detained workers. Those who can pay for their own hospitalisation are sent to private hospitals for emergencies, accompanied by PAOCC personnel, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officers, and private security guards.
BI bans layovers in deportations of offshore gaming workers
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has banned deportation flights with layovers for foreign offshore gaming workers. Under BI Board of Commissioners Resolution No. 2025-002, deported foreign nationals with alleged links to offshore gaming operators must be placed on direct flights to their countries of origin unless a direct route from the Philippines is unavailable.
BI commissioner Joel Viado said this policy aims to close “a critical loophole” that foreign offshore gaming workers previously exploited. He said: “This is a firm step in strengthening our deportation procedures.” He said the move would lower opportunities for those deported to expand operations in other countries in the region.
