The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the Philippines recently raided the Jiangxi Grand Hotel in Manila, targeting a location suspected of engaging in POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations). During the operation, all Chinese staff members were thoroughly inspected, and none were spared.
According to on-site reports, the NBI sealed off the entire hotel and scrutinized the identities of the employees one by one. Those without legal visas, work permits, or other valid identification documents were forcibly taken away. More controversially, some were required to pay a "ransom" of 500,000 to 1,000,000 pesos to be released.
A witness revealed, "My friend was caught on the spot and was told that he had to pay to be released." Eventually, the hotel owner had to step in and pay the amount to "redeem" the employees, avoiding more severe consequences.
Jiangxi Grand Hotel has long been considered a gathering place for Chinese POGO workers, and this sudden raid has shocked the Chinese community. Netizens questioned, "Has law enforcement become a form of extortion?" and "Working in the Philippines, now we are afraid even to stay in hotels."
Industry insiders point out that the Philippines has recently been intensifying its crackdown on the POGO industry, not only sweeping through gaming parks but also targeting employee dormitories and hotels. Issues such as working without a license, mismatched visa types, and overstaying are becoming high-risk factors frequently causing trouble for the Chinese community.
As of now, the NBI has not yet issued an official statement regarding this raid. However, the Chinese community is already in a state of panic, with many reminding each other, "Having legal status is most important, don't wait until you're caught to regret it."
