POGO Deportations: PAOCC demands change in NBI Clearance Policy

February 16, 2025

The spokesperson of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) sought a change in NBI clearance policy to fasten the POGO deportation process. In a statement to the media, Mr. Casio mentioned that only 10% of the Pogo foreign workers have been deported since the crackdown against the country-wise POGO workers.

On instructions of President Marcos, there was a countrywide crackdown against the POGO facilities. POGO is now completely banned in the Philippines. The next step was to evacuate the foreign workers nabbed against the charges of operating POGO gaming facilities and other gambling gaming centers.

According to the (National Bureau of Investigation) NBI clearance policy for deportation, there is a requirement of a passport as an identity proof to start the process of NBI clearance. However, for most of the POGO foreign workers, their passports are already kept by the companies operating the business. Most of the workers don’t have their passports with them, which is causing significant delay in the deportation process.

Casio further mentioned that, they have already requested the NBI to relax the policy of passport requirement for issuance of NBI clearance for exit of foreign workers. He suggested that the entry and exit records from the immigration and other documents may serve as proof of identification in case of unavailability of passports for the POGO foreign workers and operators case. This could ease the process of NBI clearance. Once NBI clearance is issued to the POGO workers, their deportation process could be easier and on fast track.

The deportation numbers shared by the NBI chief are higher than those mentioned by the PAOCC spokesperson. However, the major issue is the delay in the deportation process, which needs to be addressed through relaxation in the NBI clearance policy. If the deportation process continues to delay further, there could be a possibility of crimes and other online scamming and gambling activities by these POGO blacklisted elements. This matter is of serious concern and should be taken seriously by all the concerned authorities. Moreover, there should be a policy to have a permanent ban on similar gaming and online activities, which could ruin the youth of the Philippines.