63 Chinese, 13 Pinoys nabbed over illegal POGO ops in Makati

Sixty-three Chinese nationals and 13 Filipinos were arrested in Barangay Olimpia, Makati City on Tuesday due to alleged operation of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday, the police operation was conducted at a residential building along Obrero Street.

Police said their operation stemmed from an information they received from a tipster about the online gambling activity in the building that was allegedly being operated by a certain Xiao Bao.

Authorities also confiscated two monitors, 13 pieces of keyboards and mouse, 51 pieces of internet modems, a speaker, 11 Chinese passports, 23 identification cards, cash worth P115,200 and US $16, assorted computer cables and wires, 42 pieces of white adaptor, a Security Bank check booklet, and some load cards.

Police said the suspects were brought to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City as charges against them are being prepared. Xiao Bao, however, remains at large.

The suspects will be facing charges for alleged violation of Section 9 para (d) (Non-cooperation of persons and entities that should report and/or respond to notifiable disease or health events of public concern); PD 1602 (Prescribing stiffer penalties on illegal gambling) as amended by RA 9287 (An act increasing the penalties for illegal number games amending certain provision of PD 1602 and for other purposes) in relation to section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime prevention act of 2012); and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, the NCRPO said.

NCRPO chief Police Major General Debold Sinas appealed to the public, including foreigners who are staying in the metro, to comply with the existing laws especially at this time of the COVID-19 health crisis.

"A lot has changed from the way we live our lives before and there is no way for us to conquer this battle against the unseen but through collaborated concerted effort. We are all in this together. Please, let's all work together to heal as one nation," Sinas said.

Last week, the national government announced the partial reopening of POGOs despite the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in the National Capital Region due to the COVID-9 health crisis.

According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, POGOs are a form of business process outsourcing even if the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines does not consider POGO as such. --KBK, GMA News