Authorities have released the workers arrested from an alleged POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) hub in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

National Bureau of Investigation-Davao (NBI-11) Director, Atty. Arcelito Albao, said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) released the alleged POGO workers after a local court issued a writ of habeas corpus.

It can be recalled that NBI-11 agents arrested 59 alleged POGO workers in Panabo City, Davao del Norte morning on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Of the 59 workers, 55 are Chinese; three are Malaysians; and one is Filipino.

More than 50 computers and other pieces of evidence were also seized inside the alleged POGO hub during a raid on December 13, 2025.

The operation was based on a search warrant for syndicated estafa and online illegal gambling in relation to Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

However, the Panabo City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the illegal gambling charges against the suspects due to insufficient grounds. The syndicated estafa charges, on the other hand, will continue.

NBI-11 is still waiting for the cybercrime examination results to determine if there are more cases that need to be filed against the suspects.