Recently, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have frequently been exposed in negative news, causing widespread social concern.
On March 19, the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) together with the police raided the 21st floor of the Makati RCBC building, uncovering an illegal POGO company named "Flying Future Company".
This company ostensibly operated as a legitimate business process outsourcing (BPO) entity but was actually running a global online gambling platform, involving countries including Japan, China, Germany, and Thailand, and even engaged in illegal activities such as cryptocurrency transactions and SMS fraud. A large number of pre-registered SIM cards, fraud scripts, mass texting devices, and IMSI catchers were seized at the scene.
Although the police announced the arrest of three executives, there are external doubts about whether these individuals truly held real power or were merely scapegoats.
Following this, the case of the kidnapping and murder of well-known Chinese entrepreneur Anson Que shocked society again. Despite the police claiming to have solved the case and arrested the suspects, the whereabouts of the 200 million pesos ransom remains unclear, raising public doubts about law enforcement.
Moreover, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the Philippines recently revealed that a Chinese man was lured to the Philippines by a POGO company with the promise of a high salary, only to be illegally detained and forced into stock investment fraud to "repay" a 300,000 pesos resettlement fee.
During the raid, three Chinese nationals were arrested. Although they insisted they did not restrict anyone's freedom, investigators stated that this control model, using debt as a means to restrict personal freedom, essentially constitutes illegal detention.
More worryingly, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) of the Philippines has warned that some POGO forces might be gradually transforming into "cyber troops," attempting to manipulate social media to interfere in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
Reports have indicated that the Chinese Embassy in Manila had paid a local marketing company to operate a "troll farm" spreading false information to support pro-China candidates. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Manila have denied these allegations, emphasizing China's consistent principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into the alleged foreign interference in the elections, emphasizing a thorough investigation to uphold national sovereignty and the fairness of elections. Senator Francis Tolentino provided evidence at a Senate hearing, including a photocopy of a check, accusing it of funding a local company to operate a "troll farm" that spreads false information and affects election outcomes.
As the 2025 midterm elections approach, the negative impact of the POGO industry and potential political interference actions are causing widespread concern and anxiety in Philippine society. The government and law enforcement agencies are facing severe challenges and need to take effective measures to regulate the industry, ensuring the fairness of elections and national security.
