The NBI has subpoenaed the owner and executives of a building in Davao del Norte over an alleged POGO operation fronted as a plastic warehouse.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) wants to summon the owner and executives of a building in Davao del Norte over an alleged POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) operation located in the province.
The NBI is currently investigating a POGO operation in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, and has already subpoenaed local officials.
Ely Leano, spokesperson for the NBI's southeastern Mindanao regional office (Semro), confirmed in an Inquirer report that the agency has seized over 50 computers during the December 6, 2024 raid.
“We have already subpoenaed the barangay kagawad [councilor] and barangay captain and city officials involved in issuing the permits,” he said.
NBI is now preparing subpoenas for the land and building owner of the two-hectare warehouse, along with several city officials. The warehouse, which had been used for agricultural storage, was illicitly transformed into a POGO hub.
This investigation aims to determine how the POGO operation was able to establish itself in Panabo City.
Following the raid, NBI filed cases of syndicated estafa and online illegal gambling against 59 individuals found working at the facility, all in violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
This operation, spanning three months, was allegedly owned by the Chinese company Jinsheng International. The raid was initiated after a tip from a Malaysian POGO worker, known only as Ruby Lim, who had been kidnapped and detained at the site. NBI-Davao spokesperson Ely Leano revealed that the arrested individuals were likely remnants of POGO operations that had been shut down in Luzon.
Read related article: NBI Cracks Down on Illegal POGO Hub in Davao del Norte
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