CIDG forms tracker team vs ‘guerilla’ POGO ops

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

On Feb. 20, authorities raided a POGO facility in Parañaque City, resulting in the arrest of 453, including 307 Filipinos and 137 Chinese nationals. (PNA file photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) has formed a tracker team dedicated to monitoring Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), which continue their guerilla operations despite the total ban that was supposed to take effect by the start of 2025.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, CIDG-NCR chief Police Col. Marlon Quimno said POGOs continue their covert operations with about 15 to 20 employees.

“One of the challenges is that sa ngayon, ‘yung mga POGO is on parang (as of now the POGO is on) guerilla mode. Before they are 300, 400, 500,” Quimno said.

“And we are very fortunate doon sa information na nabibigay sa amin. Tinutulungan kami ng Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission at nahuli namin ‘yung around 400 (for the information given to us. The PAOCC has been helping us and we were able to arrest around 400),” he added.

On Feb. 20, authorities raided a POGO facility in Parañaque City, resulting in the arrest of 453, including 307 Filipinos and 137 Chinese nationals.

Quimno said 18 Chinese nationals and two Filipinos have been charged for violating trafficking laws while the rest are subject for case buildup.

He also said the arrested foreigners are subject to verification with the Bureau of Immigration.

The building owner may face a human trafficking case for knowingly renting out his facility to POGO operations for the past several months.

The owner ignored red flags, including the questionable PHP20 million monthly lease payment, Quimno said.

PAOCC spokesperson Director Winston Casio said they would seek forfeiture of the whole building used by the Dan Ying Gaming Corp., which has been operating the POGO for the last two years.

Casio said Dan Ying Gaming Corp. is allegedly owned by a “well-known” Filipino-Chinese businessman.

Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau’s deportation and implementation unit is working closely with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to expedite the deportation of foreign nationals involved in POGO operations.

“We all want the same thing—for them to leave our country as quickly as possible,” Viado said in a statement on Monday.

Viado said the documents needed for the deportation include a valid passport, NBI clearance to confirm no pending accountability, and an outbound ticket.

“The longer they stay in the country waiting for schedules, the longer the government shoulders the cost of their detention,” Viado said.

“We take whatever is available because our priority is to send them out of the country at the soonest possible time,” he added.

 (with Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)