The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its monitoring of foreign-led underground gaming groups following a raid in Taguig City that exposed an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) disguised as a business process outsourcing (BPO) company.
Acting PNP Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the discovery of the illicit hub in Upper McKinley Hills highlights how syndicates continue to circumvent the national ban on POGOs.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Southern Metro Manila District Field Unit and the Southern Police District, in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), uncovered the operation while serving an arrest warrant on a Chinese national wanted for estafa on December 1.
Authorities arrested 17 foreign nationals—12 Chinese, four Malaysians, and one Vietnamese—for allegedly running the “pin77.com” online gaming platform without authorization from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Investigators also learned that 83 Filipino workers had been deceived into believing they were employed by a legitimate information technology (IT) firm.
Nartatez said the police are seeing a pattern of foreign nationals attempting to rebuild illicit operations under new covers.
“We are seeing a trend where some foreign nationals continue attempting to set up underground operations despite the national ban,” he said.
“But wherever they try to hide, they will be caught,” the top cop noted.
The arrested foreign nationals face charges under Presidential Decree 1602 for illegal gambling, Republic Act 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and RA 11934 or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act. (Martin Sadongdong)
