Authorities raided an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) inside a skyscraper complex on Ayala Avenue, Makati City, on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) conducted the operation to serve a warrant of arrest for a wanted person on the 21st floor of the building.
“Pumasok nga sila bumungad nga itong mga computers na ito na nagpapatakbo ng isang online gaming. Nung chineck nga natin with the PAGCOR lumalabas na wala nga ‘tong lisensya sa PAGCOR,” said PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz.
Further inspection revealed an online gaming platform running on multiple computer monitors, which is banned in several countries. This led to a joint operation by the PNP CIDG, PAOCC, and Makati PNP.
Authorities found evidence that the illegal POGO was targeting victims from Europe, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and even France.
“Kung iche-check natin talagang ito ay pinagbabawal nagtaka na lang tayo na meron pa nga tayong nakita dito. Nakita namin na sila ay nambibiktima pa rin sa ibang bansa like ‘yung mga bansa sa Europa, Japan and then meron din sa China, meron sa Hongkong, meron sa Malaysia even sa France may nakita tayo,” Cruz stated.
A total of 200 employees, including 16 key leaders, were arrested, all of whom are Chinese nationals.
“Nahuli naman natin lahat pati yung 16 na bosses. Nakita natin na nagcoconference pa nung inabot natin. Meron lang silang tinatawag na kill switch na pag pinatay nila yun mamamatay ‘yung majority of the computers,” he added.
Authorities will coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to verify if the arrested employees have legal work permits.
During the raid, authorities also discovered text blasters and IMSI-catchers, which are commonly used in fraudulent activities.
“Yung mga text blasters ginagamit ‘yan sa scamming operation — ‘yung mga nagkakalat ng text blast na nagsasabi kung anong gagawin nila, ‘yung marketing scheme ng POGO operation nila and then ‘yung IMSI-catcher, ‘yan ‘yung mga humihigop, kumukuha ng data natin, ng mga cellphones na nasasagap sa paligid,” Cruz explained.
An inventory and further investigation are currently underway as authorities work to dismantle the illegal operation.