Five women were arrested during a raid on a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City, on Thursday, Oct. 15, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
According to the police report, the five arrested suspects included the hub’s supervisor, who was the subject of the search warrant. The suspects were caught while offshore gaming operations were ongoing.
The joint operation was conducted at around 4 p.m. by the CIDG-National Capital Region Field Unit, in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, Philippine Air Force, Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Military Intelligence and Digital Forensic Unit, and Makati City Police Station.
Seized during the raid were 13 computer system units, 50 monitors, a network video recorder (NVR), a digital video recorder (DVR), 29 mobile phones, five laptop computers, USB flash drives, a hard drive, a modem router, online betting cards and SIM cards.
CIDG Director Police Major General Robert Morico II said the operation supports the government's efforts to enforce the nationwide ban on offshore gaming operations.
“The State recognizes that the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are paramount for the meaningful enjoyment of democracy,” Morico emphasized.
“The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights. To this end, pursuant to Republic Act No. 12312 (Anti-POGO Act of 2025), offshore gaming operations in the Philippines are hereby banned and declared unlawful,” he added.
The CIDG said the operation also supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to eradicate POGOs and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) across the country.
The agency reiterated its commitment to enforcing the ban and warned remaining operators, financiers and alleged protectors of illegal offshore gaming activities to cease operations or face legal action.
"The Group issues a definitive warning to all remaining operators, financiers, and protectors- shut down immediately or face the full, unyielding force of the law," it said.
