Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns over the deportation procedures of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) after three alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) bosses reportedly escaped during a layover in Hong Kong.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Hontiveros said the three Chinese nationals—Lyu Xun, Kong Xiangrui, and Wang Shangle—who were arrested in a raid involving around 4,500 Chinese POGO workers, never made it back to China after their deportation.
According to the senator, the escape happened because the BI allowed flights with stopovers instead of direct ones, giving the suspects an opportunity to flee. She called the incident a “deportation gone wrong.”
The BI confirmed the three had layovers and admitted the agency had no funds for deportation tickets, so the detainees were asked to pay for their own travel. The BI also clarified that the three were not considered fugitives, so they were not escorted to their final destination.
Hontiveros questioned the lack of safeguards in the process and warned that her committee may push for reforms in the BI if clear answers are not provided.
“What’s worse is they may already be back here or people like them, ready to cause harm again,” Hontiveros said.
