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BUILDING. RCBC Plaza logo is mounted on the wall of the RCBC Plaza in Makati City.
James Patrick Cruz/Rappler
The POGO is operating in the same building complex where the embassies of Taiwan, China, South Africa, Canada, and Australia are located
MANILA, Philippines – In the heart of Makati’s financial district — where a skyscraper houses multinational firms and embassies — authorities found an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in hiding.
Philippine authorities raided the POGO hub on the 21st floor of Yuchengco Tower, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City, on Wednesday, March 19.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) apprehended around 200 individuals of various nationalities, including Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Malaysians, Taiwanese, Brazilians, and Hong Kong nationals.
Authorities were initially serving an arrest warrant for a certain Dennis E. Esguerra, who was facing robbery charges. The warrant was issued by Judge Rico Sebastian D. Liwanag of the National Capital Region’s Regional Trial Court, Branch 136, Makati City, on February 28.
The business, identified as Flying Future Company, was found facilitating online gaming services in multiple countries, including Japan, China, Germany, France, Indonesia, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, and Portugal. PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz also said that the company was involved in cryptocurrency transactions.
RAID. A desktop in one of the offices at RCBC Plaza in Makati, raided by PAOCC and the police, displayed an online game used for gambling.For three years, this POGO operated under the radar in the Makati Central Business District, in the same building complex where the embassies of Taiwan, China, South Africa, Canada, and Australia are located
Since the POGO ban, Cruz said operators have been blending into “plain sight,” disguising their operations to avoid detection. Cruz said that the operation of a POGO in the same building as crucial business establishments poses a “security risk.”
Although the POGO operator claimed to have a special class business process outsourcing (BPO) permit, Cruz clarified that it lacked proper accreditation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Adding to the alarm, authorities found text blasters and an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher — devices capable of intercepting mobile phone traffic and tracking users. Cruz said that they were investigating if the POGO hub was also involved in scamming.
Inside, the office resembled a typical corporate setup — conference rooms, a canteen, coffee shops, and even a training room for new hires.
In 2024, Marcos announced the complete ban of POGOs which have been plagued with scandals related to money laundering, immigration bribery, illegal recruitment, and human trafficking. – Rappler.com
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