Search Results

PAGCOR has raised concerns over offshore online gaming operators masquerading as business process outsourcing (BPO) companies. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has raised concerns over offshore online gaming operators (POGOs) disguising themselves as business process outsourcing (BPO) companies. PAGCOR emphasized the need for stringent measures to address these illegal operations. “To effectively address illegal gaming operations [in the Philippines], companies that misuse the BPO designation must also be scrutinized and held accountable,” PAGCOR stated in a press release quoted by GGR Asia. This issue gained prominence following the October 31, 2024 raid on Central One Bataan PH Inc., a company identified as a BPO. Local authorities suspected the firm of involvement in human trafficking and illegal online gaming activities, leading to legal debates over its operations. Regulators fear that these companies are exploiting the vast BPO industry in the Philippines.  READ: PAGCOR Urged to Assist in Returning Expats of Closed POGOs In its statement, PAGCOR clarified its jurisdictional authority over gaming activities. While the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) oversees certain tourism-related initiatives, its ability to regulate “games, amusements, recreational and sports activities” requires PAGCOR’s approval and supervision. PAGCOR asserted: “While the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan may regulate specific activities and exercise authority within its jurisdiction, its power to issue licenses for gaming operations remains conditional and subject to PAGCOR’s oversight and approval.” Furthermore, the regulator noted that Central One Bataan is not licensed by PAGCOR to conduct online gaming activities. In November 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 74 , effectively banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and Integrated Gaming Licensees (IGLs). The order aims to curb illegal gaming activities and address related issues such as human trafficking and money laundering.  Marcos emphasized the need to protect the nation’s interests and improve law enforcement in the gaming sector, while allowing certain exceptions for legitimate operations under strict guidelines. Read related article: PAGCOR Denies Jurisdiction Over Raided BPO in Bataan

This is despite Roque's claims that he was willing to participate in the preliminary investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Harry Roque failed to attend the preliminary investigation on his qualified human trafficking case in connection with illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO). The former presidential spokesperson failed to show up on November 18, 2024 despite his claims that he was willing to participate in the preliminary investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ).   READ: Harry Roque’s Wife to Be Arrested for Contempt Justice department prosecutor Eugene Yusi said Roque had not submitted a counter-affidavit at the preliminary investigation despite being informed of the case.  “If he fails to appear or participate in the preliminary investigation, the complaint will be resolved based on the complaint and the evidence annexed to the complaint,” Yusi said in an ambush interview, as quoted by the Philippine Star.  Roque is being probed for his involvement in the operations of Lucky South 99 . Roque, a former human rights lawyer, was listed in Lucky South 99's organizational chart as their "legal." In response, Roque claimed he did not receive a subpoena.   “[I] did not get any subpoena to attend from DOJ (Department of Justice) and hence I did not. Further, I've not been furnished with complaint affidavits of PAOCC [Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission],” Roque said in a message to Philstar.com. READ : House Panel Pushes for Harry Roque's Surrender, Cites Urgency The complaint involves Lucky South 99 representative Cassandra Li Ong and around 50  other respondents. During investigations, Roque's signature was found on documents linked to the POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga. However, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) clarified that the document had no criminal implications, stating it might have been part of Roque's legal consultancy work unrelated to the alleged illegal activities. Roque has denied involvement in the illegal POGO operations, emphasizing his work as a lawyer was legitimate.  Roque has notoriously skipped hearings regarding his link with POGOs, including a House Quadcomm Hearing on August 17, in which he was detained. As described by Asia Gaming Brief last September, he has referred to himself as a "political detainee," claiming that the current administration is targeting him because of his outspoken support for the Dutertes, who were previously part of the ruling coalition. Lawmakers have since considered him a fugitive since he has been hiding. He has also been cited in contempt in September for failing to submit documents documents connected to its investigation into POGOs.  Read related article: PNP: Harboring Harry Roque May Lead to Obstruction Charges

23 women, including minors, were rescued from sex trafficking in Tondo, Manila. Victims were offered to Chinese nationals working in POGO hubs. Twenty-three women, including six minors, were rescued from a harrowing ordeal of sexual exploitation in a recent NBI operation in Tondo, Manila. These young women were being offered to Chinese nationals employed in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hubs. The NBI, acting on reports of rampant illegal activity linked to an individual known only as "Mika," launched a targeted raid on the establishment, according to a report by the Philippine Star.  Read: PAOCC Raids Illegal POGO Near Senate, Arrests 200 POGO Workers Mika's scheme involved a disturbingly calculated process: posting explicit photos of the victims online, luring them to a resort, while subjecting them to a degrading selection process where they were forced to swim for the approval of foreign clients. The victims hailed from various regions including Pasig, Caloocan, Quezon City, and Pampanga, and were being trafficked to clients of diverse nationalities.  Chinese nationals were the primary target of this trafficking ring. The financial implications of this exploitation were staggering, with Chinese nationals paying exorbitant sums of P10,000 to P15,000 for each victim's services. NBI agent Jerome Hernandez led a sting operation that culminated in Mika's arrest. The suspect was apprehended after accepting marked money, providing concrete evidence of the illicit activities. The rescued minors are now under the protective care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Meanwhile, Mika faces the prospect of severe criminal charges.  This rescue operation highlights the ongoing issue of human trafficking and the importance of addressing this serious crime. It emphasizes the need for increased law enforcement efforts, public awareness campaigns, and support services for victims to protect vulnerable individuals and hold perpetrators accountable. Read Related Article: Chinese Nationals Accuse PNP of Extorting P4M in POGO Raid

The PH government is urged to repurpose seized Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs as evacuation centers for those displaced by natural disasters. A lawmaker urged the government to repurpose seized Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs as temporary evacuation centers for families displaced by natural disasters. Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares highlighted the potential of POGO hubs in strategic locations such as Bamban, Porac, Bataan, Bulacan, and Cagayan. These facilities, known for their spaciousness and modern amenities, could provide immediate relief to evacuees during times of crisis. He pointed out that these structures can provide immediate relief for evacuees. Instead of leaving them idle, Colmenares said the government should maximize their use to save lives and ensure the safety of families fleeing the storm. The proposal comes as the nation awaits the passage of the Permanent Evacuation Centers Bill, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at establishing dedicated facilities for disaster response. Colmenares believes that POGO hubs, with their medical centers and ample space, could serve as suitable emergency shelters. Colmenares expressed concerns about holding classes in the compounds “due to potential psychological trauma from past activities”, citing the alleged human trafficking, torture, and investment scams that took place in these locations.  However, he noted that the compounds could serve as effective temporary evacuation centers, as many are equipped with medical clinics and offer ample space. To further enhance preparedness efforts, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has assured residents in Northern Luzon that their transmission lines and facilities will maintain normal operations. “When Bayan Muna authored the Disaster Alerts Law we believe it would help warn the people thru text that a typhoon or calamity is coming. Now we have to take care of typhoon victims during the typhoon by providing them with decent shelters," said Atty. Colmenares. The Philippine government earlier floated a proposal to repurpose raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs into facilities that serve public needs, such as schools and government offices.  Read related article:   Raided POGO Hubs to Be Repurposed as Schools, Gov’t Buildings

PAGCOR confirmed it has no jurisdiction over Central One PH, an AFAB-regulated BPO firm in Bataan. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has clarified that it has no regulatory authority over Central One PH in Bataan, which was raided by authorities due to allegations of human trafficking and illegal gambling operations.  Central One Bataan, the BPO firm in question, was subjected to a raid in late October on suspicions of illegal activities, including online gambling and cryptocurrency scams. However, PAGCOR has emphasized that its regulatory role does not extend to the company. The BPO operates under a license issued by the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), an independent government agency responsible for overseeing economic activities within the Freeport Area of Bataan. Central One Bataan has since challenged the legality of the raid, asserting that its operations are fully compliant with the laws and regulations governing its business activities. Central One PH has been the subject of controversy following a raid by law enforcement authorities in late October. The raid, conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), was based on a warrant alleging fraudulent activities such as online gambling and cryptocurrency scams.    However, Central One PH has vehemently denied these allegations, insisting that it is a legitimate BPO company operating under a license from the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB). The company has also filed a motion to quash the search warrant used in the raid, arguing that it was invalid.    Critics argue that the PAOCC's actions were hasty and lacked sufficient evidence to justify the forceful entry and seizure of property. Furthermore, the behavior of some PAOCC operatives, including a slapping incident  against a Central One PH employee, has further tarnished the agency's reputation. Central One PH has taken legal action against the PAOCC, filing a motion to quash the search warrant and seeking accountability for the alleged misconduct of its agents.

The 16 foreigners caught running a POGO which is allegedly fronting as a hotel and resort in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, are now locked up in the city jail. The foreign suspects caught running an illegal offshore gaming operation, allegedly fronting as a hotel and resort in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, are now locked up in the city jail.  The suspects, of which 13 are male and 3 are female, arrived in Cebu from Manila last November 11, 2024 and underwent quarantine.  The three foreign women—an Indonesian, a Chinese, and a Myanmar national—allegedly involved in the online gambling operation are now confined in their cells at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail. They had to undergo a five-day quarantine before being transferred. The male inmates remain in quarantine and are expected to be placed with the general population soon, according to the Cebu newspaper The Freeman.  Assistant city jail warden Sr. Insp. Neco Manzanes Jr. said this was part of a standard protocol for its inmates, denying special treatment.  Prior to their current detention, the individuals were housed at the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Detention Center in Pasay City. A Filipino suspect, however, was not detained at the city jail. READ: P460 Billion Lost to Scams in PH, POGO Operations Linked All 17 accused face seven counts of human trafficking and have pleaded not guilty. Some of the accused, through their lawyers, have filed bail petitions, but the specific individuals have not been disclosed. The arrests followed a raid by the Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the Tourist Garden Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City on August 31, 2024. The Philippine government has intensified its efforts to combat illegal POGO activities, which have been linked to human trafficking, financial scams, and breaches of regulations. In response, authorities are urging local government units across the country to step up inspections of establishments suspected of housing these clandestine operations. Read related article: PAGCOR Calls For Vigilance Amid POGOs “Masquerading” As BPOs

Senator Risa Hontiveros says they have new information about the presence of alleged Chinese spies in the Philippines through POGOs. The final Senate hearing on illegal offshore gaming operators will focus on alleged Chinese spies at gambling hubs in the Philippines.  Senator Risa Hontiveros confirmed this, adding that they are focusing on the presence of reported Chinese spies through Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs. READ: Philippine Senate Committee Endorses Bill Outlawing POGOs "May bagong impormasyon po tayong nakalap, lalo na sa pagkakaroon ng mga espiya ng Tsina dito sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng mga POGO (We have new information, especially on the presence of Chinese spies in the Philippines through the POGOs)," Hontiveros said at a forum, as quoted by ABS-CBN News.  Senators are set to put a hard stop to the hearing on POGOs before the end of the month. Hontiveros previously said the senate panel is hoping that Lyu Dong, the alleged big boss of the Lucky South 99 POGO Hub in Porac Pampanga, will join the hearing. Lyu Dong was nabbed at a private subdivision last September, and was described as a kingpin among POGOs. READ: Alice Guo Linked to Kingpin in POGO Sex Trafficking Scandal Authorities are currently eyeing to remove all POGOs in the Philippines by the end of 2024. But Hontiveros said the existing executive order, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., still has its lapses.  She hopes the final hearing will also be a platform for her team to reform the law to prevent irregularities in POGO.  "Kaya sa next hearing, ilalahad po natin yung mga reporma sa batas na kailangan isulong dito sa Senado dahil sa napakaraming iregularidad at policy gaps na nakita natin sa pagkalat ng POGO at ng mga kaakibat nitong krimen (That is why we will present amendments to the law that we need to pass because of the many irregularities and policy gaps that we saw in the proliferation of POGOs and the crimes that came with them),” said Senator Hontiveros.  Read related story: Senator Wants Increase in Intelligence Fund vs. POGOs

Three South Korean fugitives wanted for operating illegal gambling sites were nabbed in separate operations. Three South Korean fugitives wanted for operating illegal gambling sites were nabbed in separate operations in Metro Manila.  The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said two of the suspects were arrested in Quezon City, while the other was arrested down south in Las Pinas. The suspects were identified like Kim Heechul, 36; Seo Min, 32; and Kim Yongsu, 45. READ: Online Casino Addiction Among South Korean Teens Soars According to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, the two are believed to be mid-level managers of an online gaming syndicate. Their role involved training and managing new employees and supervising the illegal operations of more than 23 online gambling sites. Kim Heechul is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, issued following an arrest warrant from the Jeonju District Court of South Korea in May 2021. Similarly, arrest warrants for Seo Min and Kim Yongsu were issued by the Incheon District Court in May 2023. “They will also be placed in our blacklist of undesirable to make sure they won’t be able to come back to the Philippines,” Viado was quoted as saying in an Inquirer report published on November 18, 2024.  READ: Korean Lottery Sales Soar to $3.3B, Reaches Record in 2024 All three are currently detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, and are awaiting deportation.  “He allegedly conspired with other suspects in running the said websites since 2014 and was accused of receiving gambling funds, converting them into cryptocurrency, and distributing winning dividends based on online betting results,” the BI’s statement read. Read related article:   Illegal Online Gambling Cases In Korea Triple Since COVID

Mayors are urged to conduct inspections of businesses following reports that POGOs are attempting to disguise themselves as resorts and restaurants in order to avoid detection. Philippine authorities urged local government units to inspect establishments even after permitting them to operate. This comes amid reports of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) attempting to masquerade themselves as resorts and restaurants to evade detection.  Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said this in response to a question by Senator Risa Hontiveros about the continuity of the POGO shutdown after the deadline set by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “I believe it transferred the one in Porac and hid there in Lapu-Lapu. So it is really up to a lot of the mayors that when they issue occupancy permits, they have to inspect the premises and make sure that what it is intended for is what’s happening,” Remulla said, as reported by the Inquirer.  Remulla was referring to incidents in Porac, Pampanga and Lapu-Lapu. In Lapu-Lapu, it was reported that a POGO hub masqueraded as a restaurant and a hotel.  Senators, including Hontiveros flagged an "alarming trend" of guerilla operations which would take over the presence of POGOs in the Philippines. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier mentioned this in a previous statement, reiterating that PNP should have enough intelligence funds to monitor these operations.  Earlier this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 74, mandating a complete ban on POGO operations by December 31, 2024. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been tasked to intensify their efforts against illegal activities such as human trafficking, online scams, and kidnappings linked to POGOs. Read related article: Senator Wants Increase in Intelligence Fund vs. POGOs

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called for an increase in the national police intelligence fund to combat illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called for an increase in the Philippine National Police’s intelligence fund to combat illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).  In his statement issued November 18, 2024, he highlighted a decrease in the PNP's intelligence budget, from P1.356 billion in 2023 to P806.025 million in 2025, despite the need for enhanced law enforcement against POGOs involved in illegal activities like kidnapping, human trafficking, and online scams.  "The PNP needs funds to gather intelligence, particularly in the fight against POGOs," Gatchalian said, citing entities who masquerade as other companies to cover up their operations.  Read:   Philippine Senate Committee Endorses Bill Outlawing POGOs Meanwhile, Gatchalian has urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to proactively cancel Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) for foreign workers linked to POGOs, as he urged a more proactive approach against these offshore gaming operators.  "POGO entities are morphing into something else so they could stay in the country and continue their scamming activities," Gatchalian noted as he interpellated on DOLE's proposed budget for 2025. Read: Senator Warns Ex-POGO Workers Starting Firms for Online Scams "We need a very proactive approach to cancel and eventually send these workers to their country of origin and we need the entire government machinery to work together to cut the legal basis for these individuals to stay in the Philippines," he stressed. DOLE reported the issuance of 15,819 AEPs in 2024 and has already canceled 36,000 permits since the ban announcement. To address potential job losses  among 27,590 Filipino POGO workers, Gatchalian encouraged DOLE to enhance employment facilitation programs, such as job fairs, to ensure displaced workers find meaningful employment. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 74  mandates a complete ban on POGO operations by December 31, 2024, with the PNP tasked to intensify their efforts against illegal activities such as human trafficking, online scams, and kidnappings linked to POGOs. Read related article: P460 Billion Lost to Scams in PH, POGO Operations Linked