At least eight Chinese nationals were arrested and an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub was dismantled by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Buhangin, Davao City.
In a report on Wednesday, the NBI said that its agents from the NBI-Southern Mindanao Regional Office (SEMRO) XI raided a residential property in the Montclair Highlands Subdivision in Buhangin on Tuesday.
The operation was launched after a homeowner reported suspicious activity.
NBI director Jaime Santiago said his agents are pursuing and dismantling all remaining POGOs in the country and the criminal networks that exploit them.
“My men pounced on the illegal hub as they pursue and dismantle all remaining POGOs in the country and the criminal networks exploiting these conduits,” Santiago said.
SEMRO XI regional director Arcelito C. Albao said the NBI received a complaint from a resident on Gardenia Street and, after surveillance, confirmed the presence of an illegal POGO operation.
Agents seized personal computers and mobile phones used to facilitate the illegal gaming.
The NBI cited that illegal POGO operators are increasingly splitting into smaller groups and moving into residential areas to avoid detection following a nationwide crackdown and it urged the public to report any suspicious activities to help combat illegal offshore gaming and related crimes, such as money laundering, cybercrime and human trafficking.
The eight arrested individuals are in NBI custody and face charges under Philippine law. The seized devices will undergo forensic examination to uncover the network and financial trail of the operation.