The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) recently launched a raid in Makati City, successfully dismantling an illegal POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) hub and arresting seven suspects. The arrested individuals include three Taiwanese men, one Burmese man, one Chinese woman, and two Filipino women.
The operation took place inside a building on Arnaiz Avenue in Makati City, where police confirmed the identities of 41 employees. These individuals were originally recruited for customer service and IT positions but were forced to participate in online gambling operations. CIDG stated that these employees will serve as key witnesses in the illegal operation case.
During the operation, the police seized a large amount of equipment and materials used for illegal operations, including 59 monitors, 27 desktop computers, 10 processing units, various information and communication devices, 25 pre-registered SIM cards, 227 various identity documents, and company files, confirming the site as an online gambling hub.
The seven arrested suspects are currently detained, facing multiple legal charges, including violations of Presidential Decree No. 1602, Executive Order No. 74, the 2012 Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act No. 10175), and the 1998 Access Devices Regulation Act (Republic Act No. 8484). The police stated that the investigation will continue to delve deeper to trace the underlying human trafficking and illegal gambling networks, combating transnational cyber fraud and exploitation.
This operation not only effectively stopped the operations of an illegal POGO center but also rescued employees who might have been exploited, highlighting the continuous efforts of the Philippine law enforcement in combating illegal gambling and related crimes.
