Since the official ban of Philippines Offshore-Facing Operators (POGO) by the Philippine President Marcos Jr. in July 2024, the first major arrest was made on the 8th of January 2025.
400 foreign nationals within the Tambo area of Parañaque City were arrested for allegedly operating a foreign-facing online gambling and cyber-scamming business within the limits of Metro Manila.
A statement by Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado was published on the official website, stating; “This raid is part of our intensified efforts to combat illegal activities and ensure that foreign nationals residing in the country comply with our laws. We will not tolerate any activities that endanger the safety and welfare of the public. POGO workers who insist on staying in the country and violating our laws will be arrested and deported.”
Arrest details
The Bureau of Immigration had been monitoring the company closely, where it was revealed that the workers were allegedly engaged in online scam operations targeting victims abroad. Once Immigration officials raided the building, their operations were also found to be in violation of Philippine immigration laws. The foreign nationals, many of whom are Chinese, are currently being detained and are awaiting deportation.
Problem at hand
The United States Institute of Peace published a in May 2024 which stated that online scammers target millions of victims around the globe, whilst making $64 billion in scammed money. It was also estimated that this scamming industry currently has half a million employees globally, 15,000 being from the Philippines, forced to carry out such operations.
Since most of the employees working in these POGO operations are reported to be forced and threatened to carry out this work, the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) and other government law enforcers have been rescuing alleged offshore gaming operator workers. These rescues were initiated after it was claimed that POGO businesses in Manila have been used as covers for human trafficking, money laundering, online fraud, kidnappings, and more.
Further action from authorities
For many, this raid has confirmed that bigger scale POGO operations and cyber scamming businesses are still operating after the announcement of the ban. On the same day of the arrest, the immigration bureau (BI) asked the public to pass on any relevant information on individuals or businesses still operating after this ban.
Procedures are also being put in place to trigger investigations into money laundering cases by banks and financial institutions that are in business with POGO related providers.
Philippine lawmakers are currently trying to push several bills to keep such banned offshore gaming operations from sneaking back into the country, while pushing for more raids to happen around the country.
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