A MASSIVE raid on Thursday resulted in the arrest of 453 employees, including 146 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, from an alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) office building in Parañaque City’s Bay Area.
The operation, a joint effort by the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime (DOJ OOC), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), stemmed from an arrest warrant for fraud against a Chinese national and an Immigration Mission Order targeting a suspected illegal POGO operation under surveillance for months.
Spread across three floors, the operation allegedly involved various scams, including stock investment and online betting schemes targeting Indian nationals. Authorities found evidence of spamming activities using Hong Kong mobile numbers and recovered hundreds of computers, laptops, smartphones, pre-registered SIM cards, and scamming scripts. The seized items will undergo digital forensics examination.
PAOCC spokesperson Director Winston Casio revealed the operation had been running for two years, relocating from ASEANA after increased scrutiny. DOJ OOC Head Agent Innah Protacio-Ladislao detailed the different scams operating on each floor of the building.
The POGO, operating under a new name with recently acquired permits, had previously been issued a closure order. PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz highlighted the need for stricter vetting of businesses before issuing permits.
Arrested foreigners will be detained at the PAOCC Detention Facility in Pasay for profiling and biometric procedures, while Filipino employees will be questioned and investigated. The investigation will include examining the validity of the company’s permits.
metrosundaily
