Philippines, Feb. 26 -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported 98 Chinese nationals caught working in illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) companies.

In a statement Wednesday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the deportees boarded a Philippine Airlines chartered flight to Xi'an, China on Tuesday night.

Viado said the chartered flight was arranged by the Chinese Embassy as part of coordinated efforts to expedite the removal of foreign nationals involved in illegal POGO activities.

Of the total, 91 were part of the 450 individuals arrested in a commercial building in Paranaque City on Jan. 8, while seven were from the BI's detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig.

Since January, the BI has apprehended more than 50...