The Philippines has asked its Department of Foreign Affairs to review the 14-day visa exemption for Chinese nationals after recent raids on suspected illegal offshore gaming sites. The review will examine whether the travel arrangement is being misused, but no change to the entry rules has yet been announced.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said 82 Chinese nationals who entered without visas were among 101 foreign nationals marked for deportation following the raids. She said the DFA would assess possible adverse effects and whether the scheme was being exploited to facilitate crime. The figures and remarks were reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Inside Asian Gaming.
The review does not establish that visa-free travel caused the alleged offenses. Authorities are investigating suspected illegal POGO operations, while the government continues to enforce its broader prohibition on offshore gaming activity.
The original government advisory introduced the exemption on January 16, 2026. It allows eligible Chinese citizens to visit for tourism or business for up to 14 days through Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila or Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
