Transporter named ‘Alias Batman’ behind escape try of Chinese Pogo hands

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday said that an “Alias Batman” facilitated the attempt by five Chinese Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) workers to illegally leave the Philippines.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that the five Chinese nationals used a “transporter” to evade authorities. He said that a “transporter” arranges unauthorized travel of an individual from the Philippines to the neighboring countries.

READ: 5 Pogo workers nabbed in back-door exit try

“According to the Filipino boatmen, they were merely instructed to carry passengers and knew their contact only by the “Alias Batman,” Viado said in a press conference.

Viado said that this is similar to a case of an “Alias Fiona,” a transporter who was arrested for trafficking victims to Sabah en route to scam hubs in Myanmar.

The agency said that based on the reports of authorities from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the boat coming from Parang Jambatan in Jolo sustained damages when it reached Languyan in Tawi-Tawi.

Upon rescue, the authorities found out that five Chinese nationals and three Filipinos were on board the damaged boat. The authorities then confirmed that the Pogo workers were blacklisted individuals who attempted to escape deportation and illegal arrest.

Crossing the borders

Further, BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that the transporters, three Filipinos, were offered P25,000 to help the Chinese Pogo workers cross the borders.

“They had no idea, or they did not know that they were helping Chinese nationals. They thought it was just regular travel. These transporters did not know who they were helping. That’s what they were saying. They only knew their contact as “Alias Batman,” Sandoval, speaking in mixed Filipino and English, said during the same press conference.

Sandoval noted that the police continue to determine the owner of the boat used by the transporters.

READ: BI restricts Pogo-linked deportees to direct flights

The Chinese nationals, who were presented to the media in the conference, were identified as Ying Guanzhen, 31; Yang Jinlong, 29; Liu Xin, 28; Shen Kan, 36; and Luo Honglin, 27.

The BI said that the five individuals were flown to Manila on Tuesday to face deportation cases filed against them. They are currently in BI’s holding facility at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan in Taguig.

Upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ban all Pogos in the country during his 3rd State of the Nation Address, the deadline for the mandatory departure of Pogo foreign workers was set last December 31.

(2025/04/08-17:40)