This POGO is located in the same building complex as the embassies of South Africa, Canada, and Australia!
Manila, Philippines — In the heart of Makati's financial district, a skyscraper housing multinational companies and embassies was found to contain a hidden illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) center.
On Wednesday, March 19, Philippine authorities raided the POGO center located on the 21st floor of the Yuchengco Tower at RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested about 200 suspects of various nationalities, including Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Malaysians, Taiwanese, Brazilians, and Hong Kongers.
Authorities were initially executing an arrest warrant for Dennis E. Esgracia, who was facing robbery charges. The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Rico Sebastian D. Livanag of the Makati City National Capital Region Branch 136 Court on February 28.
The company, named Flying Future Company, was discovered to provide online gaming services to several countries including Japan, China, Germany, France, Indonesia, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, and Portugal. Deputy Minister Gilbert Cruz of PAOCC also mentioned that the company was involved in cryptocurrency transactions.
For three years, this online gambling company had been secretly operating in the Makati Central Business District, located in the same building complex as the embassies of South Africa, Canada, and Australia. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office is also located here.
Cruz stated that since the prohibition of POGOs, operators have been "hiding in plain sight," disguising their operations to avoid detection. Cruz mentioned that having POGO and significant commercial entities in the same building poses a "security risk."
Despite the POGO operator claiming to have a special category of business process outsourcing (BPO) license, Cruz clarified that it lacks proper accreditation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
More alarmingly, authorities also discovered SMS transmitters and International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, devices capable of intercepting mobile traffic and tracking users. Cruz mentioned that they are investigating whether the POGO center was also involved in fraudulent activities.
The office interior resembled a typical corporate setup—with meeting rooms, a cafeteria, a coffee shop, and even a training room for new employees.
In 2024, Marcos announced a complete ban on POGOs due to these companies being deeply involved in scandals such as money laundering, immigration bribery, illegal recruitment, and human trafficking.
