Latest news with #MelvinMabulac
South China Morning Post
15-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Pogos in Pakistan? Scheme to traffic Filipinos shows ‘evolution' of scam operations
A scheme to traffic Filipinos into Pakistan to work for gaming firms formerly based in the Philippines has exposed the latest evolution of online scam networks linked to the controversial Pogo industry, immigration officials and analysts warn. The case – the first known incident involving Filipinos being trafficked to Pakistan – suggests that criminal syndicates previously operating under Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) licences are shifting to new jurisdictions following a government crackdown on the sector. On July 6, four Filipinos bound for Hong Kong were intercepted at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport after immigration officers found discrepancies in their statements. Investigators later discovered that their real destination was Pakistan – and that one of them, a former Pogo worker, had been recruited by a Chinese ex-employer who had relocated operations after President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr ordered a nationwide Pogo shutdown last year. In October, the Marcos administration ordered foreign Pogo workers in the country to voluntarily downgrade their visas before 2025 or face deportation. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr last year ordered a nationwide Pogo shutdown. Photo: AP The four Filipinos intercepted at the airport last week were the 'first confirmed case involving Pakistan', Melvin Mabulac, the Bureau of Immigration's deputy spokesman, confirmed in a television interview with ABS-CBN News last week.
GMA Network
24-06-2025
- GMA Network
BI files deportation cases vs 3 'Fake Pinoys'
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) filed deportation cases against three foreigners who allegedly misrepresented themselves as Filipinos while working in the country. On Tuesday, BI Deputy Spokesperson Melvin Mabulac said this developed after immigration officials nabbed three foreigners aged 46, 41 and 34, in Zamboanga del Sur on June 16 for allegedly pretending to be Filipinos. Mabulac said the foreigners were engaged in legitimate businesses in the province. However, they were using alleged fake government-issued documents in identifying themselves. 'Ang Immigration ay nag-file ng deportation case sa mga dayuhang ito para sila ay ma-deport,' he told state-run PTV's 'Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon'. (The BI has filed deportation cases against the foreigners.) 'Pero sa ating pag-deport, kung may pananagutan sila sa criminal case, they have first be accountable sa ibang kaso,' Mabulac added. (But before we deport them, they should be held accountable to any criminal cases they are possibly facing.) According to the BI, one of the foreigners was apprehended in the town of Dumalinao and was discovered to be allegedly operating a coconut charcoal business without a proper permit and visa since 2022. Another suspect was found working without a permit in the same business. He allegedly managed the aforementioned business, was found to be misrepresenting himself as a Filipino and possessed a Philippine driver's license indicating his nationality as such. The BI likewise apprehended a 41-year old foreigner who was found manning a cellphone store. Found in his possession was a Driver's License indicating his nationality as Filipino. 'Nakakabahala kasi if we go into the previous cases, nakikita natin once nahuli na mayroong silang mga dokumento na government-issued. Nakakabahala ito kaya ang ating national security agencies, tulong-tulong tayo,' Mabulac added. (These incidents are causes for concern because if we go into the previous cases, we see that they have government-issued documents. We are working with national security agencies to address this.) Meanwhile, the BI warned of possible charges against Filipinos who will assist foreigners in acquiring fraudulent government documents. 'If ever meron, they can be included. As far as the immigration's concern, itong mga subjects na ito they have violation sa Philippine Immigration Act for misrepresentation o paggamit sa hindi tamang dokumento,' Mabulac added. (If there are, they can also face charges. As far as the BI is concerned, the foreigners violated the Philippine Immigration Act for misrepresentation or for using documents they are not supposed to have.) —RF, GMA Integrated News
