Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents arrested 36 aliens including Koreans, Chinese, Indonesians yesterday afternoon in a massive raid of an illegal online gaming company at the Double Dragon Plaza Tower 3 in Pasay City.
According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, an investigation was conducted after the BI’s intelligence division received reports of aliens working without the appropriate permits in the area.
“We coordinated with PAGCOR and verified that this company is unlicensed and has no authority to operate,” said Morente.
It was learned that the company has no authority to operate and has not applied for any license with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which is a requisite for online gaming companies to operate in the country.
BI Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr. shared that the company was discovered to be engaged in illegal live studio gambling, wherein the operators and management are composed mostly of Koreans.
“Apart from the live studio, they were also conducting illegal and clandestine online gaming operations,” said Manahan.
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BI arrests 36 Koreans, Chinese, Indonesians
A total of 36 foreigners were taken in custody for having been found to be engaged in work without the proper visas and documentation.
“We initially rounded up 40 individuals, but found 4 of them to be sufficiently documented, being permanent residents in the country,” said Manahan. “However, the other 36 were unable to present their passports and visas, and were caught in the act of working illegally,” he added.
Those arrested comprised of 31 males and 5 females of various nationalities, 2 of which are Chinese, 2 are Indonesians, while 32 are Koreans.
Subjects will be detained at the BI’s Warden Facility in Bicutan, Taguig upon release of their negative RT-PCR testing result.
Morente warned illegal aliens not to take advantage of the pandemic to commit illegal activities. “We call on all foreigners to legalize your stay,” said Morente. “Do not take advantage of the pandemic, because despite the challenges, our work never stops, and we will continue to arrest, deport, and blacklist any alien who dare disobey our laws,” he warned.