March 19, the Philippine Center Against Organized Crime, the National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the Makati Police jointly launched a raid on a commercial building in Makati City, conducting a large-scale search. This raid resulted in the arrest of about 200 foreign nationals, drawing widespread attention.
It is reported that most of the arrested individuals are Chinese nationals, including citizens from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries. They claimed to be employees of "Special Category BPO" (Business Process Outsourcing companies) in an attempt to cover up their actual operational nature.
However, PAOCC officials clearly stated that these so-called "BPO" companies were not legally authorized and were actually back-office operation centers for illegal POGO and gambling platforms.
Law enforcement officers revealed that the offices inside the commercial building were meticulously arranged to appear as "regular companies" to deceive the public. The office area was equipped with a large amount of computer equipment and communication tools, and employees operated in shifts, mainly targeting groups in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia.
More notably, on the eve of the raid, several suspects allegedly received advance notice and quickly left the scene. During the raid, law enforcement officers found several offices emptied, and some employees' computer hard drives had been formatted or destroyed, attempting to erase key evidence.
PAOCC officials stated that this operation is one of the Philippine government's special operations to combat illegal POGO activities. Recently, raids and crackdowns on illegal gambling dens have been frequently launched nationwide, especially in commercial areas with foreign populations such as Manila, Pasay City, and Makati.
According to investigations, these illegal POGO companies are not only involved in fraud and money laundering but also in severe illegal detention and mistreatment of employees. Law enforcement agencies emphasized that all arrested foreign nationals would undergo strict scrutiny and investigation, and if confirmed to be involved in illegal activities, they would be prosecuted and deported according to the law.
This series of raids demonstrates the Philippine government's determination to intensify the crackdown on illegal gambling, and also serves as a warning to the many foreign nationals working in related industries in the Philippines. For the Chinese community working in the Philippines, the current situation is undoubtedly filled with uncertainties.
