The Philippines has mandated that foreign nationals employed by offshore gambling companies must depart the country within two months, according to a statement from the immigration bureau on Wednesday. This directive follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s move to eradicate these operators due to their alleged involvement in criminal activities, human trafficking, and financial frauds. Marcos has prohibited Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and instructed the gaming authority to cease all such operations by the end of the year. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco declared that foreign employees have 59 days to exit the Philippines. This order is anticipated to impact approximately 20,000 individuals, predominantly Chinese nationals. Those who remain past the deadline will face deportation. The Chinese embassy in Manila has yet to comment on this development. POGOs came into existence in 2016 and rapidly expanded by leveraging lenient regulations to attract customers from China, where gambling is illegal. At their zenith, around 300 POGOs were active in the Philippines, but the COVID-19 pandemic and stricter tax policies led many to either relocate or operate clandestinely. Currently, only 42 primarily Chinese companies maintain their licenses, employing roughly 63,000 Filipino and foreign workers both directly and indirectly.