Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Sunday, November 3, 2024, vowed to further intensify the campaign against illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming (Pogo) operations in connection with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order. regarding the banning of all Pogos in the country starting January 1.

In a statement, Marbil commended the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), led by Major General Ronnie Cariaga, for the recent successful operation that dismantled the so-called “mother of all scam centers” at the Century Peak Tower in Manila last week.

“This operation is a testament to the dedication of our PNP-ACG personnel, whose tireless pursuit of justice has exposed and disrupted a significant hub of criminal activity related to online scams, illegal gambling and human trafficking,” Marbil said.

“We have two months to rid the country of these illegal Pogos,” he added.

On October 29, police elements from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), led by Major General Sidney Hernia and other PNP units, including the PNP-ACG, raided a 40-story building on Adriatico Street in Manila , which allegedly became a central hub for various Pogo operations, harboring hundreds of people involved in illicit activities, including 69 foreign nationals.

The building is allegedly where undocumented Pogo workers continued their operations after their businesses in various parts of the country were raided and ordered closed by authorities, including one linked to Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

The operation received strong support from Manila Mayor Honey Lacuña, who expressed her appreciation for the PNP’s success and praised their unwavering commitment to public safety and the rule of law.

Lacuña recognized the quick and decisive action of the PNP as a vital step in protecting the communities of Manila from illegal activities related to cybercrime, human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

Marbil noted that the operation serves as a strong demonstration of the PNP-ACG’s expertise and commitment to effective law enforcement.

He also specified that operations targeting cybercrimes are executed exclusively by the PNP and the National Bureau of Immigration, as these agencies have the specialized skills needed to solve such crimes.

Marbil reiterated the PNP’s unwavering commitment to file charges against all those involved, including the establishment’s owner, as the forensic analysis of the evidence continues.

It may be recalled that the 69 detained foreign nationals working in the alleged “mother of all scam centers” were released pending the filing of charges against them.

“This operation not only reveals the extent of Pogo’s illegal activities, but also reinforces law enforcement’s unwavering determination to dismantle criminal networks, uphold public safety and uphold the rule of law in every sector of cyber enforcement,” Marbil said .

Earlier, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) labeled the raid a “flawed operation” after they were “falsely associated” with it.

“We never release any foreign national caught in Pogos because all our operations are always properly coordinated with DOJ-IACAT (Department of Justice-Inter-Agency Council Against traffic) and the Immigration Office. Please do not associate PAOCC with wrong operations,” PAOCC said.

During his State of the Nation Address in July, Marcos gave the Pogos until December 31 to cease operations to stop the chaos they have wreaked on the country.

He gave the order following raids on two major illegal Pogo centers in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga, which revealed their involvement in illegal activities such as human trafficking, kidnapping and “even murder” under the guise of a legitimate operation . . (TPM/SunStar Philippines)