Some Filipinos are continuing scam farms — PAOCC spox

As authorities continue to crack down on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) discovered that some Filipinos from raided hubs are now also trying to run their own scam operations.

“Ang nakakatakot 'yung indigenous scam farm na ang nagpapatakbo ay mga Pilipino. Ito na nga ang nakikita natin. May mangilan-ngilan nang sumusubok,” PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio told Super Radyo dzBB on Monday.

(The frightening thing is the indigenous scam farm being run by Filipinos. This is what we're seeing. There are already some who are trying.)

“Ang tanong bakit? Kasi napakalaki ho ng pera,” he added.

(The question is, why? Because the money is really huge.)

Casio said that authorities raided online fraud and online scam networks run by Filipinos in the past months.

“Mga beterano po ‘yun na nanggaling doon sa mga na-raid na pong mga illegal na pasugalan at sa mga online scam hubs natin na tinatawag,” he said.

(Those are veterans, coming from the raided underground gambling dens and online scam hotspots.)

According to Casio, authorities realized that this may happen following their raids in August and had already discussed it.

“Na-realize na po ng Commission ‘yan. Napag-usapan na ng mga direktor ‘yan at napresenta na po namin kay Executive Secretary na darating ang panahon na itong mga Pilipino, matututo at matututo, makakaipon ng sapat na pondo, lakas ng loob, network, koneksyon, at sila na ang magsisimula,” he said.

(The commission already realized that. The directors have already discussed it and we've presented it to the Executive Secretary that the time will come when these Filipinos will learn, accumulate enough funds, gain courage, networks, and connections, and they will be the ones to start.)

During his third State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs in the country. He instructed PAGCOR to cease all operations of POGOs by the end of the year.

However, Casio said they discovered that an Internet Gaming Licensee (IGL) firm, or POGOs given permit to operate, in Pasay City seemingly had no plans to discontinue its operations.

He said that authorities found that Filipinos were among the newly-hired personnel after raiding the establishment last week.

“Nung ininterview ko 'yung mga Pilipino, kailan ka na-hire? Three days ago. Kelan ka na-hire? Four weeks ago. Ikaw, anong ginagawa mo doon? I was there for an interview,” the spokesperson recalled his talk with the staff.

(When I interviewed the Filipinos, when were you hired? Three days ago. When were you hired? Four weeks ago. You, what were you doing there? I was there for an interview.)

Casio said they raided the establishment after receiving information that an illegal POGO was operating in the area. 

He said they were shocked to find out that it was a licensed IGL.

Casio clarified that IGLs are also covered by the POGO ban.

Foreign workers of POGO hubs are given until October 15 to voluntarily downgrade their visas. The Department of Justice said that the 9G visas of these workers will be downgraded to tourist visas starting October 16.

Once downgraded, the foreigners will be given until the end of the year to leave the country.

The DOJ previously warned that foreigners whose visas are forcefully cancelled will be blacklisted.—Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News