Last night, City View Garden in Pasay became the focus of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operation. The raid targeted residents suspected of involvement in illegal online gambling and related "jungle" employees in Chinese POGO operations. The scene was chaotic, with many residents panicking and even locking multiple doors and windows, afraid to go out.
According to eyewitnesses, the NBI conducted a thorough search within the community, with several police cars and plainclothes personnel frequently entering and exiting complex buildings. Residents sought help through social media, stating that they could not ascertain the number of arrests or the identities of those targeted. Some of the community residents are Chinese POGO workers, who were considered the main focus of this operation.
This type of raid is not the first in the Philippines.
December 2024, an operation took place in the upscale Susana Heights residential area in Pasay, where two Chinese POGO "jungle" workers were detained by the NBI for managing illegal gambling, causing hours of lockdown and panic among residents.
March 2025, another nighttime raid in the Greenwood residential area in Makati resulted in the detention of two Chinese "jungle" workers, with the online gambling platform involved being frozen on the spot.
June 2025, in the Lahug residential area in Cebu, three Chinese "jungle" workers were detained for participating in online gambling operations, with local police blocking the entire community and conducting identity checks.
Each raid has heightened the insecurity felt by Chinese POGO workers in the Philippines, making their living and working conditions increasingly tense.
Industry insiders analyze that Chinese POGO "jungle" workers have been treading on thin ice in the Philippines: on one hand, illegal gambling brings the temptation of high profits; on the other hand, they could face raids, detention, or even deportation at any time. The operation in City View Garden shows that the NBI has obtained the identity information of the "jungle" workers, executing the strike swiftly and efficiently, significantly impacting the freedom and safety of residents and workers.
As of now, the NBI has not yet announced the number of arrests or the results of subsequent actions. The operation is still ongoing, and nearby residents are required to stay indoors to ensure safety. Historical cases and this raid show that the working and living environment for Chinese POGO "jungle" workers in the Philippines is becoming increasingly dangerous, potentially becoming targets of law enforcement at any time.
