Four Chinese nationals were arrested in Muntinlupa City after Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives raided a site allegedly being used for cyber fraud activities linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) operations.
The operation was carried out following reports of continued POGO-related activities along Montillano Street in Alabang.
The raid was conducted by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) under a mission order issued by Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado on September 3. The order directed the unit to verify reports of suspected illegal activities and take appropriate action.
According to FSU chief Rendel Sy, the four suspects were caught allegedly engaged in cyber fraud at the time of the operation.
They were identified as Qiao Zhong, 30 years old, who was reportedly undocumented; Tang Ke, 31 years old, an overstaying foreign national without a valid visa; Liu Peng, 35 years old, also an overstaying foreign national; and Zhang Caiyu, 42 years old, an overstayer who was already subject to a blacklist order and had previously worked for a POGO.
The arrests form part of the government’s continuing campaign to dismantle illegal POGO operations, following the government’s directive to end POGO activities in the Philippines.
The operations team was also commended for acting on the intelligence and maintaining its focus on foreign nationals suspected of violating Philippine laws.
“We will remain relentless in enforcing our immigration laws and in supporting the government’s policy to shut down illegal POGO operations,” Viado said, adding that the bureau would continue to locate and apprehend foreign nationals involved in unlawful activities.
The BI also urged the public to report information about foreign nationals suspected of engaging in illegal activities. According to the bureau, tips from the public remain an important part of efforts to uncover unlawful operations and strengthen immigration and border security enforcement.