P112.57 million cash seized from suspected POGO

MANILA, Philippines — Up to P112.57 million in cash and several foreign passports have been seized during a follow-up operation at a raided business process outsourcing (BPO) firm in Bagac, Bataan on Wednesday.

The money and passports were found in 12 safety vaults at Central One, which was first raided by members of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission on Oct. 31, over allegations that the BPO was an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO).

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, information officer of the Philipppine National Police, yesterday said the opening of the vaults was covered by a search warrant issued by a local court.

The money was suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities being conducted at the alleged POGO hub.

Aside from cash and passports, the vaults contained vouchers, security tokens and foreign currencies, Fajardo said.

Authorities arrested five foreign nationals, including Indonesian Handoyo Salman, allegedly chief of Central One’s budget department.

Fajardo said Salman, who is wanted in Indonesia for fraud and money laundering, would be deported along with four Malaysians.