Authorities in Pasay City conducted a large-scale raid on Wednesday, arresting 401 foreign nationals allegedly involved in an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) scam hub. The operation was led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) in coordination with the Pasay City government, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), and the Department of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC).
Illegal POGO Hub Raided in Pasay City
The raid took place at a 10-story building along Macapagal Boulevard following reports from a concerned citizen about the continuous operations of a POGO despite a national ban imposed by the Marcos administration. Authorities found strong evidence linking the establishment to various fraudulent activities, including love scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment scams, all primarily executed via messaging platforms like Viber and Telegram.
“We received an intelligence report that a POGO was still operating here. Last year, we had already shut down a similar operation on the sixth floor, and another one on the 8th floor, I think,” said Atty. Patrick Legaspi, head of the Pasay City Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO).
Evidence and Items Seized
Inside the establishment, authorities seized computers, thousands of local SIM cards, text blasters, one-time password generators, and cold crypto wallets. Investigators also found lists of Filipino names and corresponding amounts received through local e-wallets, indicating that local citizens, in addition to foreign nationals, may have fallen victim to the scams.
PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz condemned the blatant defiance of the law. “This group of POGO operators is blatantly disregarding our laws. Despite a closure order from PAGCOR, they continued their operations at full blast.”
401 Foreign Nationals Arrested
The arrested individuals included:
- 207 Chinese nationals
- 132 Vietnamese
- 24 Koreans
- 11 Malaysians
- 14 Indonesians
- 12 Myanmar nationals
- 1 individual from Madagascar
- 52 Filipino workers
Some of those apprehended attempted to evade capture by hiding inside restrooms and air conditioning ducts or escaping through fire exits.
CIDG Director Police Major General Nicolas Torre III stated, “We found foreign nationals hiding inside air ducts and other concealed areas, clearly attempting to avoid arrest.” Authorities have coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration to verify their legal status and check their passports and work visas.
Scam Targeted Filipino Victims
DOJ-OOC investigators found that the scam hub’s operations were more complex than previously raided sites as it directly targeted Filipino victims.
DOJ-OOC Head Agent Inna Protacio-Ladislao revealed, “Unlike other scam hubs, we found records of Filipino victims who made payments ranging from ₱20 to ₱5,000. The biggest amount recorded was around ₱5,000, with some payments as small as ₱20 or ₱70. It is possible that the text blasters were used to lure people into sending money.”
Pasay City Government Orders Immediate Shutdown
The Pasay City government swiftly issued a closure order against the establishment, citing the absence of a business permit and violations of the POGO ban.
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano reaffirmed the city’s commitment to shutting down illegal POGO operations. “To those still running illegal POGOs, we will not allow you to operate. You will be held accountable for violating our laws, and your establishments will be closed,” she said after personally overseeing the shutdown.
She also compared the situation to a constant game of cat and mouse, stating, “We have recorded activities here, tracking how frequently we visit areas where POGOs used to operate, and now we have shut them down. But perhaps this is just how it is—like a game of cat and mouse, not just with POGOs but also with vendors and others. When we inspect, they disappear.”
PAGCOR and Authorities Continue Crackdown on Illegal POGOs
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) assured the public that it continues weekly inspections to ensure previously closed POGO sites remain shut.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco stated, “We conduct weekly inspections to ensure that previously closed POGO sites remain shut. Any tip from the public or informants is immediately forwarded to PAOCC for action.”
Authorities are now conducting digital forensic analysis on the confiscated devices to investigate the full extent of the scam operations. Meanwhile, the arrested individuals are being processed for potential charges, with foreign nationals facing deportation if found to be in the country illegally.
This latest raid highlights the Philippines’ intensified crackdown on illegal POGO operations and their involvement in fraudulent schemes targeting both local and international victims.
