By Aaron Recuenco
Police arrested 151 foreigners in a raid on an unregistered Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Quezon City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Wednesday (June 3).
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said the operation was the offshoot of a confirmed intelligence report about online gaming at Scout Lascano in Barangay Laging Handa.
“Our personnel then conducted surveillance and monitoring to confirm the veracity of the report. After positive confirmation, an operation was plotted,” Sinas said.
In the operation, Sinas said his men arrested 133 male foreigners and 16 female foreigners conducting online gaming that was later found to be unregistered.
Seized were more than 2,000 cellular phones, 168 computers and laptops, printers, passports and various identification cards, and cash in local and foreign currencies.
“As per coordination with the barangay chairman, the suspects did not secure a business permit from their barangay. Further, a request for verification of registration was already made with the Business Permit and Licensing Department (BPLD) of Quezon City,” Sinas said.
The arrested suspects and recovered pieces of evidence were brought to the NCRPO-Regional Special Operations Group office at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.