A police raid reported that 162 foreigners were rescued from an alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Cebu. The reported illegal operations were located on the property of the Tourist Garden Hotel resort.
The rescued foreigners comprised 83 Chinese, 70 Indonesians, 6 Myanmar Nationals, 2 Taiwanese, and 1 Malaysian.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the National Bureau of Investigation-Region 7 (NBI-7) conducted the raid. At a press conference, PAOCC spokesperson Winston Romeo Casio revealed further news about the raid.
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His statement revealed that the majority of the foreign nationals, including the five managers, had fled from Pampanga after the facility in that location was raided.
He also mentioned that the raid in Lapu-Lapu City was initiated at the request of the Indonesian embassy.
“We were just here to rescue the Indonesian nationals. Kaya lang, pagdating namin dito, in flagrante delicto — caught in the act — nakita namin merong mga scam farm dito. This is a 100-percent illegal POGO,” Casio said.
Alongside the rescued individuals, five Filipinos have also been found and confirmed they are engaging in scamming activities. Authorities have also confiscated computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices used in “love scams” and cryptocurrency scams from the POGO hub.
Also Read: 19 Suspects Arrested for Shocking “Vishing” Scam
This is the first confirmed POGO hub in Cebu to be raided following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s nationwide ban on July 22.
Reports about other potential POGO hubs within the city have also been made. Casio and other authorities stated that they would investigate the reports.
Keep Reading: Marcos Officially Declares Pogo Ban
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