The President's Anti-Organized Crime Commission of the Philippines (PAOCC), in conjunction with the National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Makati City Government, raided an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub located at the PBCOM Tower on Ayala Avenue yesterday.
However, when law enforcement entered the premises, the office was deserted, although the air conditioning was still running.
The operation targeted multiple floors of the PBCOM Tower, including the 45th, 46th, and 51st floors, where approximately 600 Philippine and foreign employees were expected to be found. However, it appears the suspects had evacuated in advance. Law enforcement found a large number of mobile phones, registered SIM cards, and scripts for fraud operations at the scene.
Analysis revealed that these English scripts were prepared for Filipino employees, and witnesses confirmed that people had previously received scam training here.
Gilbert Cruz, Deputy Minister of PAOCC, stated that although the suspects were not caught on-site, the raid was still significant. He noted that authorities would review the operation, investigate whether intelligence had been leaked in advance, and accelerate the pursuit of the masterminds behind the scenes. Additionally, the government is expanding its investigation to thoroughly dismantle this illegal network.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio emphasized that the government's determination to combat illegal POGO operations is unwavering, with the goal of completely banning such operators by the end of 2025.
It is understood that at the peak of the POGO business, about 20 floors of the 50-story PBCOM Tower were leased by POGO companies, and this raid is another significant measure by the Philippine government to strengthen industry regulation and curb related crimes.
Law enforcement agencies are calling on the public to provide clues to help capture fugitives.
The management of the PBCOM Tower, suspected to be a POGO scam center, notified its tenants yesterday that an annual inspection will be conducted on March 12.
