28 foreign nationals nabbed in a small-scale POGO hub in Cavite

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>SILANG, Cavite— Authorities raided a private resort and events venue in Silang, Cavite on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of 29 foreign nationals accused of operating within an alleged scam hub.</p><p>By virtue of a mission order from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the operation was conducted where the foreign nationals were caught red-handed running an online cryptocurrency scam.</p><p>The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) reported that this is one of over one hundred &quot;guerrilla-type&quot; Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) still operating despite being banned in the country.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/8/bi-warns-firms-individuals-harboring-illegal-pogo-workers-1405">READ: BI warns firms, individuals &#x27;harboring&#x27; illegal POGO workers</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/31/paocc-vows-to-go-after-small-scale-pogo-ops-in-2025-1016">READ: PAOCC vows to go after &#x27;small-scale POGO ops&#x27; in 2025</a></div><p>“Ganito ‘yung pinaka-setup ng sinasabi naming small-scale POGO operation. They hide ‘yung mga operation nila sa mga resorts, tapos ‘yung iba sa mga condominiums,” Usec. Gilbert Cruz, Executive Director of PAOCC said.</p><p>The raided scam hub leased the entire resort for nearly P800,000 per month.</p><p>Based on the police investigation, the foreign workers are linked to larger POGOs that were shut down last year.</p><p>“Nagda-drop na raw ng foreign nationals dito ng mid ng December pero nirentahan ito last week ng November. Kaya naalarma ‘yung ating confidential agent at nireport sa atin ‘yung nangyayaring activities sa loob ng resort,” PLtCol. Mark Jason Gatdula, Provincial Chief of CIDG Cavite said.</p><p>Twenty-two Chinese nationals and six Burmese were apprehended that should no longer be here in the Philippines according to PAOCC, since their working visas have been downgraded.</p><p>“Nakita niyo naman na nakaupo pa rin sila dyan sa mga computers nila so that’s a violation of the condition of their stay dito sa ating bansa,” Cruz said.</p><p>“Obviously kaya nila ginagawa ito sa laki ng kita. Sinusugal na nilang mahuli sila, ma-deport sila,” he added.</p><p>The foreign nationals were brought to the PAOCC detention facility in Pasay and will be charged with corresponding complaints.</p><p>The police will also investigate whether kidnapping, torture, or other illicit activities occurred at the raided POGO hub.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ccCgs43UVpA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Authorities raided a private resort and events venue in Silang, Cavite on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of 29 foreign nationals accused of operating within an alleged scam hub.</p>

Authorities raided a private resort and events venue in Silang, Cavite on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of 29 foreign nationals accused of operating within an alleged scam hub.

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28 foreign nationals nabbed in a small-scale POGO hub in Cavite

28 foreign nationals nabbed in a small-scale POGO hub in Cavite

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 15, 2025 10:28 PM PHT

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POGO

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foreign nationals

cryptocurrency scam

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