35 Indonesian citizens, previously detained at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Detention Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, have been deported back to Indonesia due to their involvement in an illegal online gambling hub in Cebu.
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(Photo from the Bureau of Immigration)
According to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, those deported back to their home country included 9 women and 26 men. They were flown back to Indonesia from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on October 22, 2024.
These Indonesians were arrested during a raid on illegal online gambling and scamming operations in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on August 31, 2024.
More than 100 foreigners were arrested during the operation by the BI, in collaboration with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
The foreigners were operating from a resort in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, where they had set up workstations.
"The arrest and subsequent deportation of these foreign nationals send a strong message that illegal online gambling operations will not be tolerated. We remain committed to upholding the President's directive to ban such activities, and we will continue to work closely with other government agencies to ensure that those involved in illegal operations are brought to justice," stated Viado.
Viado also warned other foreigners that those found to be working illegally in the country without the necessary documents will face the appropriate penalties under the law.
