By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Authorities nabbed 131 workers of an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in a raid in Makati City.
In a statement Friday, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the suspects — 96 foreigners and 35 Filipinos — were nabbed during the operation at the 21st floor of Yuchengco Tower 1, RCBC Plaza on Wednesday night.
He added that operatives from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit, CIDG Southern District Field Unit and local police units arrested a certain “Michael”, who has an arrest warrant for robbery.
During the implementation of the arrest warrant, a foreigner approached the authorities and tipped off illegal online activities inside the Flying Future Services Office.
The joint team immediately verified the report and confirmed illegal online casino gaming operations inside the facility, which resulted in the raid.
Seized druing the operation were several pieces of evidence, including electronic devices and documents used for the illegal POGO hub’s operations.
The foreigners include 58 Chinese, eight Japanese, 12 Taiwanese, two Vietnamese, one Mongolian, one St. Kitts & Nevis National, one Brazilian, and 13 Malaysians.
Torre identified three arrested Chinese suspects, as “Guge,” the boss of Intech World Company; “Layson,” the boss of Omniach Company; and “Younger”, the boss of Urban Ideas, all sub-companies of Flying Future Services Inc.
Flying Future Services Inc. is a software development company. However, it was found out to be involved in POGO operations.
The arrested suspects were charged before the National Prosecution Service with violations of Republic Act (RA) 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act), PD 1602 (Illegal Gambling), and RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act), they are temporarily detained at CIDG Southern District Field Unit.
The rest of the foreign nationals are now in the custody of PAOCC for further documentation and proper disposition. (PNA)
