DOJ to look at BI recommendation on amnesty for illegal aliens

The Department of Justice on Tuesday said it would look into the recommendation of the Bureau of Immigration that foreign employees of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and illegal aliens be granted amnesty.

Remulla issued the remark in a press conference when asked about the appeal of some employees of illegal POGOs to be transferred to legal POGOs.

“We will look at the recommendation of the Bureau of Immigration because somebody in the Bureau has already recommended to me the start of probably a process of amnesty because this problem has to be resolved for the country. Hindi lang sa POGO no,” Remulla said.

“We have so many illegal aliens in this country that have to be recorded properly. And they are becoming milking cows of many people who should not be doing it. Ano to, ito ‘yung mga nakakawa talaga na aliens,” he added.

Deportation

According to Remulla, the first batch of foreign illegal POGO employees will be deported on Wednesday, October 19.

“I have been briefed by the Immigration Commissioner. Five or six of them will be deported. Self-deportation muna ito that they’re paying for,” Remulla said.

He said the deportation of 400 other employees in custody was being scheduled.

“China is validating the identities of the persons to be deported, if they’re really their nationals, if they’re overstaying. The BI has already canceled the visas of many of those who were working at the illegal POGO outlets,” he said.

The DOJ previously said it had yet to receive reports that some illegal pogo employees had attempted to bribe government officials to prevent their deportation.

The BI seeks to cancel more than 48,000 alien visas of Chinese employees of POGOs with canceled licenses — DVM, GMA News