The Bacolor Police are intensifying surveillance and monitoring efforts in various barangays after receiving information about the proliferation of small-scale scam hubs or farms in Central Luzon.

Authorities are still validating information about establishments that may be harboring illegal transactions.

PMaj. Erwin Marzan, chief of the Bacolor Police Station, said they have been instructed to monitor all illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities within their municipalities following the incidents in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga.

"Inutusan din tayo in coordination sa business ang licensing ng munisipyo para [malaman] kung lisensyado ba. Ginagawa namin per barangay [ay] katulong [natin] ang ating mga barangay captains. Minomonitor natin ‘yung mga may possible [violations]," Marzan said.

"Puspusan po kaming nagmo-monintor sa aming mga kanya-kanyang AOR para kung sakali man na meron ay mahuli at mapanagot ‘yung mga nanloloko sa ating mga kababayan," Marzan added.

According to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), small-scale scam hubs are typically composed of 20 to 50 individuals operating out of apartments and condominiums.

"Kaya lang nila ginagawa yan [na] liniliitan na lang nila [ay] sapagkat alam nila [ay] kapag na-raid sila ng nasa malaking lugar [ay] lahat sila ubos,” Dr. Winston Casio,  PAOCC Spokesperson, said.

Following the raid on the POGO compound in Porac, similar small-scale scam hubs have allegedly been spotted in other provinces in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

"Yung nakikita natin diyan sa Pampanga at ‘yung mga nakikita natin sa southern Metro Manila; actually, these are remnants of the big POGO hubs that we have raided. The big scam farms that we have raided," Casio said.

"Minamanmanan po namin mga ito until such time na mabuo namin ang basis namin for search warrant," he added.