Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Davao (NBI-11) have arrested eight Chinese nationals for allegedly operating an illegal POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) hub at a subdivision in Buhangin, Davao City on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

NBI-11 said the operation was launched after it received a complaint from the homeowners’ association.

Authorities then conducted surveillance monitoring, which confirmed the illegal activity.

Those arrested included six men and two women.

The NBI-11 agents also recovered at least 10 personal computers and cellphones believed to have been used in the alleged illegal POGO operation.

“In the wee hours in the evening mostly daw ito mga lasing nagsisigawan and minsan nag-aaway… it caused alarm and attention to the residents. Three days itong surveillance namin na ginawa and we confirmed na they are doing illegal online...or POGO,” NBI-11 Director, Atty. Arcelito Albao, said.

Albao said that since POGO was banned in the Philippines, operators have allegedly formed small networks to continue operating secretly.

“Ang ginagawa nila is that they divided into 10 or 12 persons na nag-o-operate so that it will not cause attention to the residents,” Albao added.

NBI-11 is also monitoring another possible POGO hub in the city that is allegedly operating as a commercial establishment.

“But meron kaming namo-monitor allegedly na may isa na naman na bagong tayo hopefully sana makuha namin,” Albao said.

The suspects arrested are facing charges for online gambling in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the suspects for a statement, as of this writing.

(With reports from John Ryan Calonia, GMA Super Radyo Davao and Jandi Esteban, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao)