The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) distanced itself from a recent anti-POGO operation at the Century Peak Tower in Ermita, Manila.
The agency cited concerns over the “flawed” handling of the raid, particularly regarding the reported release of foreign suspects.
The raid, led by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), targeted the 40-story Century Peak Tower, where employees of previously closed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs were reportedly working.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna was notified as the operation commenced; however, the PAOCC stated that it had not been consulted on the raid.
“The PAOCC was not involved in the raid conducted by the PNP NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) and PNP-ACG. We were neither informed nor consulted about this operation, and we do not authorize the release of foreign nationals apprehended in POGO operations,” PAOCC said in an official statement issued Saturday.
The commission stressed that it operates in close coordination with the Department of Justice’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for all its activities.
PAOCC also clarified that it had not described the raided POGO as the “mother of all POGOs” and emphasized its lack of involvement in the operation, declining to comment further on any ongoing investigation.
The Century Peak Tower raid took place just two days before another operation led by PAOCC, together with the PNP Special Action Force and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, targeted Central One Bataan PH, Inc. at CentroPark in Bagac, Bataan.
This October 31 operation was based on a search warrant from a Malolos, Bulacan court, with evidence pointing to illegal online gambling and cryptocurrency scams, despite the firm’s registered license as a business process outsourcing company.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio stated that intelligence reports suggest Central One was potentially involved in fraudulent activities, including illegal online gambling and cryptocurrency scams.
Meanwhile, the PNP-ACG reported that the Manila operation was conducted in coordination with the Manila Police District’s District Mobile Force Battalion, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). A total of 69 individuals—34 Indonesians, 10 Malaysians, and 25 Chinese nationals—were taken into custody for alleged involvement in cryptocurrency and romance scams.
The Bureau of Immigration stated it is actively coordinating with the PNP for the formal turnover of the 69 detainees, pending necessary documentation, including identification records and an affidavit of arrest.
The IACAT will assess foreign human trafficking victims among those apprehended, the BI noted.
