MANILA, Philippines — Fifty-seven foreigners and 358 Filipinos were rounded up during a raid yesterday afternoon on a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bagac, Bataan that is suspected to be involved in criminal activities.
Armed with a search warrant issued by a court in Malolos, Bulacan, teams from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, swooped down on the Centro Park, a vast compound in Barangay Parang.
Soldiers on board military trucks were seen entering the compound as part of security measures.
Probers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were initially stationed outside as they mapped out their operation targeting Central One, a hub which occupies buildings within the compound.
PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said the raid was carried out after they received reports Central One was actually a POGO.
“Based on our information, that’s a POGO operation,” he said over dzBB.
At least 900 people, including over 300 foreigners, are working in the compound. Among them are Chinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian nationals. The other 600, meanwhile, are Filipinos.
The Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 81 issued the search warrant after finding probable cause that violations of Republic Act 9208, also known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act as amended by RA 10364, were committed inside the compound.
Among the alleged leaders and incorporators of the POGO firm are 10 Chinese, four Malaysians and two Thai nationals. Among them was a Chinese man identified as Chen Hao, said to be one of the bosses.
PAOCC spokesman Winston John Casio said Central One has no permit from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., making their operation illegal.
Casio said Central One is supposedly a business process outsourcing company. However, they got word from informants the firm is involved in illegal activities.
Police are scouring the buildings for computers, laptops, cellular phones and computer servers which could be vital in the investigation on the POGO hub’s activities.
75 POGO workers nabbed in Manila
Seventy-five foreign nationals were taken into custody following a raid on an POGO hub at Century Peak Tower in Adriatico Street, Manila.
The National Capital Region Police Office and the Anti-Cybercrime Group conducted the raid on Oct. 29, following a warrant to search, seize and examine computer data issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court.
Authorities discovered that the entire building was occupied by foreign nationals who were reportedly working without the necessary permits.
During the operation, agents confiscated mobile phones, desktop computers, laptops, SIM cards, a digital video recorder, and facial recognition attendance machine used in POGO operations.
The detained POGO workers are currently undergoing identity and immigration status verification with the Bureau of Immigration.– Christine Boton