NBI raids 2 illegal online gambling hubs

MANILA, Philippines - National Bureau of Investigation agents raided two illegal online gambling hubs run by foreigners in Metro Manila last week, the NBI said yesterday.

The NBI’s cybercrime division (CCD) raided a unit at a condominium in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on May 15.

The hub is operated by All Heart Inc., reportedly run by Chinese-Americans based in Hong Kong, the NBI said.

Four women – Mary Rose Mendoza, Romelyn Marundan, Sarah Primavera and Maricar Carandang – were reportedly caught performing “casino activities” during the raid.

Agents seized about P3 million to P6 million worth of equipment, including playing cards, gaming and roulette tables, cameras, computer monitors and routers.

The firm has an application for a permit to perform online casino operations pending before the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. since February. PAGCOR said All Heart has yet to submit the requirements and pay the fees for the permit.

On Wednesday night, NBI-CCD arrested five Koreans for allegedly operating an online betting service in a house along Dao street in Valle Verde 3, Pasig City.

Kim Cheonji, Yang Il-hwan, Yang Wonsup, Kim Jeong Hyeok and Kang Moon-kyu, in operating a webpage for online sports betting, also used it for money laundering, the NBI said.

The Koreans were said to earn over P1 million a month as their salary.

Those arrested in the two raids face charges of illegal gambling in relation to the cybercrime prevention law.