Philippine POGO raid leads to 131 arrests in Makati City
Philippine authorities have made 131 arrests in Makati City after discovering a POGO hub in the city.
The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group announced that of the 131 arrests, 96 were foreigners, including Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Brazilian, Malaysian, and Mongolian nationals, and 35 were Filipinos, according to the Philippine News Agency.
During their investigation, authorities were tipped off about an offshore gambling operation being run from the offces of a software development called Flying Future Services. Having confirmed the report, the building was raided.
During the raid, authorities seized electronic devices and documents used for the illegal POGO operation. Flying Future Services was discovered to be part of several POGO operations.
Chief Major General of the Philippine National Police, Nicolas Torre III, said the authorities had arrested the bosses of Intech World Company, Omniach Company, and Urban Ideas, which are all subsidiaries of Flying Future Services.
The 131 arrested individuals will be charged with anti-trafficking, illegal gambling, and cybercrime by the Philippine National Prosecution Service.
POGOs, or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, became the subject of a nationwide ban in July 2024, with all of them under orders to fully close by 1 January 2025.
The Philippine Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has pledged that any remaining illegal POGOs will be eliminated by the end of the year.
Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
