851 arrested in raid on POGO firm in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 851 workers, including 351 foreigners, were arrested after police raided a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firm allegedly engaged in a fraudulent cryptocurreny scam in Bamban, Tarlac on Wednesday afternoon, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said yesterday.

Armed with a search warrant, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group swooped down on Hong Sheng Gaming Technology Inc. in Barangay Anupul at around 5 p.m., CIDG director Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat said.

Among those arrested were Chai Kiat Chiw, a Malaysian national, and 350 foreigners.

Also arrested were 500 Filipinos, according to Caramat.

He said the company is a licensed POGO but is behind a fraudulent investment scam.

The CIDG and the Anti-Cybercrime Group were still processing the computer data found in the company yesterday.

Charges for violating Republic Act 8799 or the Security Regulations Code of the Philippines in relation to RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and human trafficking are being prepared against the suspects.

Police are also looking for three other suspects, namely Yu Zheng Can, Zhiyang Huang ang Thelma Barrogo Laman.