Philippine Immigration Bureau has canceled visas for more than 1400 Chinese employees of online gambling.

On October 13, local time, Philippine Assistant Secretary of Justice and spokesman Jose Dominic F. Clavano said that the Immigration Bureau (BI) had canceled the visas of more than 1400 Chinese workers employed by illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).

MR Kolavano said the visa cancellation was part of the government's overall strategy to deal with foreign employees of illegal online gambling. He added that the continued stay of foreign employees of illegal online bookmakers poses a threat not only to safety but also to health, as there are reports that sexually transmitted diseases are spreading to some online bookmakers.

The spokesman said: "Our strategy is to cancel work visas registered with illegal online gambling companies. On Monday, 1424 visas have been canceled."

For the Philippine government and affected foreigners, canceling visas and forcing departure within 59 days is a more economical and humane way, rather than directly entering the expulsion process.
Meanwhile, 372 foreign nationals previously under temporary supervision by Philippine law enforcement agencies will be deported "this week or next week.

Coravano said: "Some of the affected Chinese employees contacted the authorities for help asking if they could transfer to a legal online gambling company. In this regard, we are asking the immigration department's process because they were from illegal online gambling companies and their visas were false documents."

As of September 14, data from the Philippine Entertainment and Gaming Company showed that the licenses of 175 Philippine offshore gaming operators and their service providers have been canceled, but some continue to operate illegally in the Philippines.

The Philippine Ministry of Justice previously stated that the Immigration Bureau's goal is to cancel the work visas of 48,000 foreign employees working in illegal online gambling companies.