Authorities arrested 49 foreigners in a raid at an alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) site in a commercial building along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City on Friday night, the Bureau of Immigration said.

Officers from Immigration Bureau and the National Bureau of Investigation carried out the raid following a mission order on the reported scam hub. 

The foreigners were arrested after the BI received information that the suspects were operating a fraudulent online hub under the guise of a legitimate digital service.

Operatives found the employees targeting victims both locally and internationally through various digital platforms, the Immigration bureau said in a press statement Saturday. 

The suspects were also found working without appropriate visas, with two identified as having active derogatory records.

These include a 29-year-old Bangladeshi male under a watchlist order for alleged involvement in illegal recruitment activities, and a 25-year-old Pakistani male under an alert list order related to suspected financial fraud.

Following booking and documentation procedures, the arrested individuals will face deportation proceedings and subsequent blacklisting.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado commended the joint efforts of the BI and NBI, highlighting the significance of the operation in dismantling illegal POGO operations.

"This successful operation is a testament to the strong collaboration between the BI and the NBI. We remain steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the country from illegal foreign operations that undermine our laws and exploit our people," Viado said in a statement.

"We will continue to intensify our enforcement operations to protect national security and uphold the integrity of our immigration policies."