JOINT operatives on Wednesday arrested 851 workers in a raid at an illegal POGO company in Bamban, Tarlac.
Among those arrested were 350 foreign nationals and 500 Filipinos.
The raid was conducted at Hong Sheng Gaming Technology Inc. compound located at 888, Sitio Pag-asa, Bgy. Anupul, Bamban town.
Nabbed during the operation was the alleged illegal POGO operator identified as Chai Kiat Chiw, a Malaysian national.
Filipina-Malaysian Thelma Barrogo Larnan and two other foreigners named Yu Zheng Can and Zhiyang Huang alias “Boss Wang” eluded arrest.
Members of the Criminal Investigation Detection Group Regional Field Unit 3 under Col. Joshua Alejandro led the Tarlac operation, with the support of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, the PNP Special Action Force and the Tarlac Police Provincial Office.
Authorities implemented a Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data for violation of Section 26 or fraudulent transactions such as engaging in any transaction, practice, course or business, which operates as a fraud or deceit upon persons or Republic Act 8799 otherwise known as the Securities Regulations Code of the Philippines in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
According to PNP-CIDG director Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr., the raid was conducted on the strength of an order issued by Judge Maria Flor A. Ortiz of the Tarlac City Regional Trial Court.
Caramat said the company is operating a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scam shielding under a licensed offshore gaming operation.
