Philippines Puts Largest 2026 POGO Bust at 244 Foreign Nationals
The raids targeted suspected POGO-related activity in Barangay Kimos, Siay, and Barangay Tandiong Muslim, Alicia. According to the Bureau of Immigration, teams apprehended 113 people in Siay – 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians and one Hong Kong national. Another 131 were apprehended in Alicia, mostly Chinese, with nationals of Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar also among the group.
The second group is still being verified by the BI Alien Registration Division. Authorities are investigating possible immigration violations, including work without the proper visa, undocumented status and illegal entry. Alleged involvement in illegal POGO-related online activity is also under review.
Roughly 3,000 Phones Raise the Scale
At the Casa de Coco Pension House compound, authorities recovered 78 computer monitors, roughly 3,000 mobile phones, laptops and cellular SIM cards.
That was above the initial count of around 2,000 phones. The BI said other technical devices found at the site were believed to have been used for online scams.
The Post-Ban Enforcement Phase Gets a Record-Size Case
15M wrote in April that the Philippine POGO story had moved from shutdown to enforcement after the licensed sector was dismantled. The Zamboanga Sibugay operation is a concrete example of that next phase: authorities are now looking for suspected offshore gaming activity that continued after the ban rather than closing licensed POGO hubs.
The BI said the raids form part of enforcement of Executive Order No. 74 of 2024 and Republic Act No. 12312, the Anti-POGO Act of 2025.
Philstar reported on October 4 that the BI described the operation as its largest POGO bust of the year. Possible human-trafficking offences arising from the raids are also being investigated.
The BI has not said that all those apprehended worked for a POGO or scam operation. Some identities and nationalities are still being verified, while alleged immigration and POGO-related violations remain under investigation.
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