4-11-2024 (MANILA) Philippine authorities have dealt significant blows to suspected illegal offshore gaming operations this week, with major raids in Bataan province and Metro Manila as President Marcos’s year-end deadline for their closure approaches.
In a large-scale operation on Thursday, joint forces of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and police units stormed a 1.5-hectare compound in Bagac, Bataan, targeting Central One Bataan PH Inc., a suspected illegal gaming operator allegedly run by Malaysian nationals. The raid, conducted under heavy rain at Centro Park Freeport, revealed 358 Filipino and 57 foreign workers within the facility.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio highlighted the discovery of the banned online betting platform Winbox, stating, “This operation clearly violated offshore gaming permissions. Despite the company’s claims of being a legitimate business process outsourcing firm, evidence indicates unauthorised gaming activities.”
In a separate operation on Tuesday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested 18 Chinese nationals in Parañaque City, uncovering what authorities described as a “scam hub.” The operation revealed a troubling trend of larger illegal gaming operations fragmenting into smaller, harder-to-detect units operating from residential buildings.
The case took an unexpected turn when one suspect attempted to bribe NBI agents, offering ₱300,000 for each of his 17 compatriots’ release. NBI Director Jaime Santiago confirmed that agents “played along” with the scheme, leading to additional criminal charges.
These enforcement actions follow President Marcos’s July announcement to terminate all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) by year’s end, citing their links to serious crimes including human trafficking, fraud, kidnapping, and murder.
The Bataan raid has raised questions about local oversight, as provincial officials, including Governor Joet Garcia, had declared the facility clear of irregularities following an inspection in June. PAOCC’s Casio defended local authorities, noting the technical complexity of detecting illegal gaming operations.
The detained foreign nationals face multiple charges, including cybercrime violations and immigration offences, while authorities prepare for additional enforcement actions as the presidential deadline approaches.
