PAOCC Raids Illegal Pogo Operating Near Senate; Over 200 POGO Workers Arrested in Pasay

October 4, 2024 Philippines Crime & Legal

Authorities raided a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) located just 650 meters from the Senate building in Pasay City on October 3, 2024. The operation, discovered in the Kimberhi Building on Macapagal Boulevard, was described by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) as a “scam farm.”

Winston Casio, spokesperson for the PAOCC, reported that the operation was involved in various fraudulent schemes, including love scams and cryptocurrency fraud. The raid was conducted in collaboration with multiple agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Immigration, and the Department of Justice.

The discovery of the illegal Pogo hub is part of a broader investigation into criminal activities tied to the rise of Pogos during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. As part of this investigation, PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz stated that agents recovered various devices during the raid, including computers, mobile phones, and preregistered local and international SIM cards.

“This is similar to the one we raided in Bamban, the one by [suspended] Mayor Alice Guo. This is also similar to the one we raided in Porac and other Pogos we raided in Metro Manila,” Cruz was quoted as saying in a report published by the Inquirer. The similarities suggest a pattern of illicit activities prevalent among these operators, raising concerns about the broader implications for the country’s gaming sector.

Approximately 185 foreign nationals and 73 Filipinos were arrested during the raid. These individuals are suspected of working for the scam farm within the Kimberhi Building in Pasay City. Authorities have committed to conducting further investigations to uncover additional violations, including whether the POGO had the necessary permits to operate.

This raid comes in the wake of escalating concerns regarding POGOs and their links to organized crime. During his third State of the Nation Address on July 22, 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the illicit activities associated with these operators, which include financial scams, money laundering, human trafficking, and even murder. He subsequently ordered a total ban on all POGOs, including those legally registered as internet gaming licensees by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).