Para±aque city: Immigration operatives arrested three Chinese nationals, including a former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) worker, for overstaying and violating other laws at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

According to Philippines News Agency, Chen Shiwei, Pan Xin, and Wang Jianqiang were apprehended as they were about to board an Asiana Airlines flight to Incheon, South Korea. The arrests were made on Friday, as detailed in a news release over the weekend. Verification revealed that Chen and Pan had been overstaying since 2024.

Wang, who was previously employed as a POGO worker, failed to exit the country following the government’s order to shut down POGO operations. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is also investigating a potential accomplice who may have assisted in their attempted travel.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized the bureau’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and holding offenders accountable. Viado stated that the BI is actively enhancing border security and deporting overstaying and undocumented foreigners.