453 Arrested As Philippine Authorities Seize Another POGO Hub

Police raid an illegal POGO hub in Pasay City, arresting 453 people, including 401 foreigners.

Philippine police conducted another large operation against an offshore gaming hub (POGO) in Pasay City, arresting 453 people. 

The illegal group consisting of 401 foreigners and 52 Filipinos which ran online scams targeting both local and foreign victims.

Company Persisted Operations Despite Ban

The company occupied the 6th to 10th floors of a building in Paranaque, just a few miles away from the Philippines’ largest gateway. The location had been ordered closed before on two floors but kept running. 

"We found they were still operating despite our earlier closure orders," said a police spokesperson.

Evidence of Widespread Scams

Police found thousands of SIM cards, text messaging machines, computers and other devices. There were also records of fund transfers which authorities are linking to love scams and fake investment schemes. Unlike previous raids that mostly targeted foreign victims, evidence showed many Filipino victims as well.

Foreigners caught during the raid tried to hide in bathrooms and air conditioning ducts. The Bureau of Immigration is now checking their legal status in the country.

Government Response

Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano immediately ordered the business shut down. 

“Mayroon kaming activities dito, recorded, kung how frequent namin binibisita ang mga lugar na nagkakaroon ng POGO dati at ngayon, closed na namin. Pero siguro, gano'n talaga, parang aso’t-pusa, hindi lang sa POGO, sa vendors, etc. Pag ini-inspect, nawawala,” she told reporters. 

(We’ve recorded activities of how often we’ve visited sites which have POGOs. Now we’ve shut them down. But I guess it’s like a cat and mouse race between POGOs, vendors, et cetera. If we inspect them, they disappear.) 

This is the second operation in less than a week where authorities were able to seize hundreds of people. On February 21, police also raided an alleged scam hub in neighboring town Paranaque City. 

Police will examine all digital evidence to understand the full scope of the operation. The gaming regulator PAGCOR has stepped up monitoring of previously closed businesses to prevent them from reopening.

Vigilance urged

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2024 ordered a ban on offshore gaming operations, triggering widespread raids against companies that have kept their operations obscure. There have also been incidents reported of POGO hubs moving to nearby provinces or even farther islands like Visayas or Mindanao. 

The Bureau of Immigration earlier said it will file charges against Filipinos found protecting POGOs, which often have undocumented workers. 

“Section 46 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 prohibits harboring illegal aliens, and violators may face up to 10 years in prison,” a statement by the Bureau of Immigration read. 

Read related article: Philippine Police Tighten Watch vs. POGOs