Philippine law enforcement recently launched a raid on Alabat Island in Quezon Province, successfully dismantling a suspected illegal POGO operation and arresting 42 Chinese men on the spot. Shockingly, some of these individuals were not only suspected of illegal employment but were also found to have expired visas, constituting illegal stay.
Mysterious vessels raise police alert
According to the police, the operation was based on reliable tips. Recently, local residents reported seeing multiple groups of Chinese nationals secretly boarding the island by boat. Unlike ordinary tourists, these individuals did not engage in typical tourist activities but went directly to a resort on the island, behaving very suspiciously.
"The behavior of these people is completely different from that of ordinary tourists," said a police officer involved in the operation, "They live collectively in the resort and hardly interact with the outside world, which immediately raised our high alert."
Resort hides a secret
After careful planning, law enforcement raided the resort. Investigations revealed that what appeared to be a regular tourist spot might actually serve as a base for illegal operations. Electronic devices and documents seized on-site suggest that some kind of online business activities were likely taking place.
"The most concerning part is that some of the individuals could not produce any legal residency documents," revealed an immigration official, "and many others, although they had visas, had visas that had long expired, constituting illegal stay."
Possibly remnants of POGO fleeing and committing crimes
Preliminary investigations by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) suggest that the arrested individuals are likely escapees from a crackdown in the Polloc area of Maguindanao Province related to POGO. Authorities are using biometric and tracking data to confirm their connection to previously shut down illegal POGO operations.
"This is not just a simple case of illegal employment," emphasized a PAOCC spokesperson, "We suspect this is an organized crime group that, in the context of the government's crackdown on POGO, is trying to move to remote areas to continue their illegal activities."
Government continues intense crackdown
The Philippine Immigration Bureau stated that all 42 arrested individuals have been detained. Those with expired visas will be immediately deported and permanently banned from entry; those suspected of illegal employment will face severe legal penalties; and if confirmed to be associated with illegal POGO operations, they will face even more serious charges.
"This operation demonstrates the government's determination to combat illegal foreign workers and underground gambling activities," stressed Norman Tansingco, director of the Immigration Bureau, "We will continue to strengthen law enforcement and will not allow these illegal forces to re-emerge anywhere in the Philippines."
Experts: The POGO issue is far from over
Security experts point out that this incident shows that although the Philippine government has been vigorously cracking down on the POGO industry, the personnel involved may disperse and continue their activities in more concealed areas. "Alabat Island, due to its remote location, becomes an ideal hiding place," analyzed an expert, "This reminds law enforcement to extend their regulatory scope beyond traditional focus areas."
It is reported that Philippine authorities are conducting nationwide inspections of similar suspicious places, especially resorts and guesthouses in remote areas, to prevent them from becoming new illegal strongholds. This operation on Alabat Island may just be the beginning of a new round of crackdowns.
