7 policemen, 4 others face raps over alleged POGO extortion scheme

MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed several complaints against seven police officers and four civilians allegedly involved in an organized extortion scheme targeting Chinese nationals.

The suspects are facing charges of Kidnapping for Ransom, Robbery with Violence Against or Intimidation of Persons by Means of Extortion, and Usurpation of Authority.

The suspects allegedly posed as law enforcement personnel and accused Chinese nationals of operating illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), using the allegations as a pretext to raid properties, rob their victims, and extort money.

The case stemmed from an October 21, 2026 incident at a farm resort in Alfonso, Cavite, where armed men allegedly barged into the property, threatened the Chinese businesswoman and her companions at gunpoint, and demanded P10 million.

The suspects allegedly ransacked the resort and took approximately P2 million worth of cash, jewelry, computers, gadgets and other valuables. They also took the victims’ passports and demanded another P500,000 in exchange for their return.

The victim said her husband immediately drove them to Manila to seek help from the NBI.

Through a series of entrapment operations, NBI operatives arrested several suspects, including the alleged mastermind, during a follow-up operation in San Pablo City, Laguna, on October 28.

Two other suspects were earlier arrested during an entrapment operation in Manila involving the return of the victims’ passports in exchange for marked money.

Recovered during the operations were firearms, ammunition, identification cards bearing purported law enforcement affiliations, communication equipment, and electronic devices allegedly taken from the victims.

The NBI is also investigating possible links between the suspects and other police personnel involved in a recent armed encounter in Bacoor, Cavite, where five individuals were killed.