131, including 96 foreigners, accounted after POGO raid in Makati —CIDG

A total of 131 individuals, including 96 foreign nationals, were accounted after a raid against Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities in Makati City, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said.

In a statement on Thursday evening, the CIDG said authorities served an arrest warrant for robbery to alias Michael at the premises of Flying Future Services, Inc. on Tuesday.

During the implementation of the arrest warrant, the CIDG said a foreign national approached the authorities and reported illegal online activities in the Flying Future’s office.

Authorities confirmed the report and launched an operation. According to the CIDG, Flying Future is a software development company but was found to be conducting illegal POGO operations.

Among the accounted persons in the operation were 58 Chinese, 13 Malaysians,12 Taiwanese, eight Japanese, two Vietnamese, one Mongolian, one St. Kitts & Nevis national, and one Brazilian.

Seized during the operation were several pieces of evidence including electronic devices and documents used for the illegal POGO hub and illicit online operations, the CIDG said.

CIDG chief Police Major General Nicolas Torre III identified three arrested Chinese suspects as Guge, the boss of Intech World Company; Layson, the boss of Omniach Company; and Younger, the boss of Urban Ideas—all sub-companies of Flying Future.

The three are facing complaints for the violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act as well as illegal gambling.

They are temporarily detained at CIDG Southern District Field Unit.

Meanwhile, the rest of the foreign nationals are in the custody of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) for further documentation and proper disposition.

“Rest assured that your CIDG is unyielding in catching and raiding individuals and syndicates, local or foreign nationals who are involved in all types of crimes in the country including trafficking in persons and illegal operations of POGOs/internet gaming licensees (IGLs),” Torre said.

“We urge the public to report all suspicious activities in your localities, and your CIDG will do the rest,” he added.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News