South Koreans nabbed for running mini-POGO in Angeles City, Pampanga

Seven South Koreans were recently arrested after they were found to be allegedly running illegal offshore gaming operations at a condominium unit inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The Bureau of Immigration said the arrest of the foreigners on Oct. 13 was carried out in coordination with South Korean authorities, the Philippine Air Force, and the Clark Development Corporation.

In a statement, BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado lauded the arrest and vowed that they will continue its sustained and intensified operations against illegal offshore gaming operations involving foreigners.

“The directive of the President is clear. We will not allow foreign nationals to continue online gaming activities in the Philippines. Those who insist on doing so will be arrested and deported,” he said.

Rendel Ryan Sy, chief of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit, said the BI was initially targeting a South Korean fugitive who allegedly operated in the area.

The fugitive was nowhere to be found but the BI encountered the seven South Korean males who were caught red-handed as they manned workstations suspected to be connected to online gambling activities.

The BI said the suspects were engaged in small-scale illegal operations using a betting platform linked to various sporting events worldwide.

Initial verification showed that one of the suspects has been wanted by the BI since January this year for failing to leave the country even after Philippine offshore gaming operations were banned.

The arrested foreigners were transferred to the BI’s detention facility in Taguig City where they will remain during deportation proceedings. — JMA, GMA Integrated News