265 Chinese caught in illegal POGO

MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested 265 Chinese during a raid on an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Las Piñas City on Thursday night.

Operatives from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)’s Regional Special Operations Group, Southern Police District and the city police staged the raid on the Eurotel Hotel at around 9 p.m. on Thursday following reports that there were persons gathered at the hotel.

Police said an illegal POGO operation was set up in the hotel. Among the items seized were 110 laptop computers, 467 cell phones, P6.4 million in various currencies, internet devices, Chinese identification cards, 251 Chinese passports and other electronics.

The suspects and the evidence were brought to the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa for investigation.

The suspects face charges of violating Republic Act 11332, the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, and Executive Order 112 or President Duterte’s order imposing an enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.