PAOCC raids empty POGO hub in Makati

MANILA, Philippines — Law enforcement authorities raided on Thursday night a suspected Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Makati City, expecting they would be able to arrest over 600 foreigners.

But all they found were empty workstations and offices, which seemed to have been abandoned a few hours before the operation was conducted.

Joint teams from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine National Police and Department of Justice conducted the raid based on a mission order from the Makati government’s business permits and licensing office.

Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, is not discounting the possibility that somebody may have tipped off the POGO hub about their operation.

He cited a memorandum, which apparently warned the POGO hub about an inspection of their facility.

“We will re-evaluate our tactics,” Torre said in a TV interview.

According to PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz, the POGO workers were seen running toward the ground floor to exit the PBCom Tower at the corner of Ayala and V. Rufino Avenues between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Cruz cited intelligence reports of about 21 companies working as scam centers in the building.

Authorities seized computers, cell phones, subscriber identity module cards, scripts for scamming people and other pieces of evidence.

Based on the items recovered, authorities said the POGO hub is involved in investment and cryptocurrency scam.