Philippine law enforcement agencies raided a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) center in the basement of a hotel in Pasay City, arresting six Koreans and several Filipinos. The police stated that these suspects are suspected of engaging in illegal gambling activities and may be involved in fraudulent activities, and are currently facing related charges.
This operation was jointly carried out by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Law enforcement officers raided the hotel basement and found the suspects operating desktop computers related to POGO, suspecting it to be an illegal gambling operation center.
The police revealed that the six arrested Korean nationals have been included in the 2023 decree blacklist, and some Filipino suspects will also undergo further investigation.
The law enforcement agencies stated that preliminary evidence shows that the illegal POGO center may be involved in fraudulent activities, and the victims may not be limited to within the Philippines.
In recent years, the Philippine government has intensified its crackdown on illegal POGO operations, and foreigners involved in illegal activities also face stricter legal sanctions.
Currently, the management of the hotel involved has not yet responded to the matter, and the police are further tracking the masterminds behind the group and calling on the public to report suspicious gambling activities to assist law enforcement actions.
