Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that a fugitive recovery operation is being considered for foreign Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) workers who failed to downgrade their visas by the October 15 deadline.
Remulla noted that many foreign workers have not voluntarily downgraded their visas, presenting a challenge for the government.
Those without new visas are being automatically downgraded, with limited exceptions for winding down operations to ensure betting capital is returned to customers.
While the issue is delicate, Remulla assured that it is manageable and emphasized the importance of preventing a humanitarian crisis.
The government aims to close all legal POGOs by December 31.
