PHILIPPINE, RAKYAT NEWS – The Philippine government has recently announced a downgrade of visas for Indonesian nationals suspected of working as online gambling operators. This decision follows the uncovering of an online gambling operation at the Tourist Garden Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on August 31, 2024, involving Indonesian citizens.

Police Commisioner (Kombes) Pol Retno Prihawati, the police attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, explained that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has implemented a ban on online gambling. Foreign operators have been given until the end of December 2024 to leave the Philippines, a measure intended to address concerns about the growing online gambling industry.

This action will significantly impact approximately 4,179 Indonesian workers involved in both legal and illegal online gambling operations within the country. The downgrading of visa status is not exclusive to Indonesians; it applies to all foreign nationals engaged in this sector, highlighting the Philippines’ broader crackdown on illegal gambling.

She emphasized the collaborative efforts of the Indonesian National Police’s Directorate of Intelligence (Divhubinter) in addressing this issue. They are actively coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to identify Indonesian nationals involved in these operations.

As a result of this crackdown, authorities have initiated the repatriation process for 69 Indonesians identified as online gambling operators.

The repatriation will occur in stages, with the first group of 35 scheduled to return between October 22 and 23, 2024, via flights to Jakarta, Medan, and Manado.

The first repatriation flight on October 22 transported 10 individuals, followed by an additional 11 Indonesians on a subsequent flight to Jakarta. The next day, two more individuals were returned to Medan, with others flying to Jakarta and Manado.

The Philippine government’s intensified efforts to regulate the online gambling industry underscore the significant implications for foreign workers in the sector. Many Indonesian nationals are reportedly aware of their roles as operators in the online gambling scene.

This crackdown reflects a broader strategy by the Philippine government to address illegal gambling activities, which have raised concerns among law enforcement and regulatory bodies. As these measures unfold, the impact on both local and foreign workers remains to be seen. (Uki Ruknuddin)