The Philippine National Police has been intensifying its efforts to smash any form of illegal activity in the country. The trimming of unlawful activities, including illegal hubs, is in sync with the order of the President to ban all operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs) across the country, and the directive relative to the subject of PNP Chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil. The joint efforts resulted to a step-up in cracking down illegal operations of POGOs and IGLs.
On March 19, 2025, a joint team from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, CIDG NCR Field Unit, CIDG Southern District Field Unit and territorial police units arrested alias Michael by virtue of Warrant of Arrest for Robbery at the premises of Flying Future Services, Inc. located at the 21st Floor of Yuchengco Tower 1, RCBC Plaza in Makati City.
Unexpectedly, during the implementation of the arrest warrant, a foreign national approached the authorities and tipped off illegal online activities inside the Flying Future Services Office. The team composed of members of the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit and the Southern Police District Field Unit, joined by officers from PAOCC, led by their Executive Director Gilbert DC Cruz, and the local police immediately verified the report and confirmed that, indeed, an illegal online casino gaming was taking place in the area prompting them to make the arrests.
The raid led to the apprehension of 131 workers of the secret establishment – 96 of them were foreign nationals composed of 58 Chinese, 12 Taiwanese, two Vietnamese, one Mongolian, one from St. Kitts & Nevis, one Brazilian and 13 Malaysians, for alleged trafficking in person, illegal gambling, cybercrime, and immigration law violation.
Confiscated during the operation were various electronic devices and other documents being used in alleged illegal online activities.
PMGen Nicolas D. Torre III, CIDG Director, said that among the 96 foreigners arrested were alias “Guge” whom he described as the boss of Intech World Company; “Layson”, the head of the Omniach Company; and a certain “Younger”, the boss of Urban Ideas. The three companies were said to be sub-companies of the Flying Future Services, Inc. which was described as a software development company engaged in illegal POGO operations.
The arrested suspects were charged before the National Prosecution Service with violations of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, illegal gambling under Presidential Decree 1602 and RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The arrested Filipinos were placed under the custody of the CIDG Southern District Field Unit while the arrested foreigners were brought to the PAOCC custodial facility for further documentation and eventual deportation.
“Rest assured that your CIDG is unyielding in catching and raiding individuals and syndicates, local or foreign nationals who are involved in all types of crimes in the country, including trafficking in persons and illegal operations of POGOs/IGLs,” PMGen Torre said.
