5 women arrested in Makati POGO hub raid
MANILA — Five women were arrested after authorities raided a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City, on Thursday, October 15.
According to the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), those arrested included the supervisor of the operation and the subject of the search warrant.
The suspects were caught while their offshore gaming operations were ongoing inside the building.
The joint operation was conducted by the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit together with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Military Intelligence and Digital Forensic Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP-MIDFU), and the Makati City Police Station.
Authorities served a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data in connection with the violation of Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 12312 or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025.
Seized during the operation were 13 computer system units, 50 monitors, 29 cellphones, five laptops, a network video recorder (NVR), a digital video recorder (DVR), USB flash drives, a hard drive, a modem router, online betting cards, and SIM cards.
CIDG Director PMGEN Robert Morico II emphasized that the government will not hesitate to enforce the law against illegal operations in the country.
“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 stated.
“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,” the official added.
According to the CIDG, the successful raid directly aligns with the President’s directive against offshore gaming operators.
“This accomplishment directly advances President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s absolute mandate to completely eradicate Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) across the country,” the agency said in its statement.
The CIDG also issued a final warning against those operating and financing such illegal activities.
“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,” the CIDG urged.
The agency has yet to detail the identities of the arrested suspects while appropriate charges against them are being prepared.