Philippines arrests 244 foreigners in illegal POGO crackdown

Philippine authorities arrested 244 foreign workers on October 2, 2026, in the country’s largest crackdown on illegal online gaming operations this year, according to reports by the Bureau of Immigration. The simultaneous raids in the southern island municipalities of Siay and Alicia in Zamboanga Sibugay province targeted clandestine hubs that authorities say were operating under the cover of banned Philippine offshore gaming operators, locally known as POGOs.

Simultaneous Raids in Mindanao Target Two Locations

Law enforcement teams comprising the Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines descended on two separate addresses in Zamboanga Sibugay before dawn on October 2, 2026. Reports indicated that military and law enforcement personnel executed the operations following intelligence reports regarding foreign nationals running unauthorized electronic gaming networks.

Rappler noted that the first operation in Barangay Kimos of Siay town resulted in the apprehension of 113 foreign nationals, including 110 Chinese citizens, two Cambodians, and one Hong Kong resident. A second simultaneous raid in Barangay Tandiong Muslim of Alicia town netted 131 individuals, who immigration officials stated were mostly Chinese alongside citizens of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

Reports indicated that troops from the 102nd Brigade of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office 9 secured the perimeters during the early morning raids. Authorities seized thousands of electronic devices across the two sites, including laptops, desktop computers, 78 computer monitors, and approximately 3,000 mobile phones and SIM cards, according to Rappler.

POGO Ban Enforcement Clashes With Continuing Underground Networks

The October 2 operations highlight the persistent operation of illegal online hubs despite Manila’s formal prohibition of the industry. Reports indicated that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on POGOs during his third State of the Nation Address in 2024, which was followed by the October 2025 signing of Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025.

While the government banned POGOs on the grounds that criminal syndicates used them as fronts for human trafficking, money laundering, kidnappings, fraud, and murder, underground operators have continued to function. Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado described the Zamboanga Sibugay operation as the largest POGO bust of 2026, emphasizing that enforcement agencies remain committed to targeting foreign nationals who violate their visa conditions.

We will continue to enforce our immigration laws against foreign nationals who violate the conditions of their stay and ensure that the Philippines is not used as a base for illegal activities.

Joel Viado

Regional Scam Operations Draw International and Diplomatic Scrutiny

The raids in Mindanao reflect a broader Southeast Asian crisis involving industrial-scale online scam centers. A 2023 United Nations report estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked by criminal gangs and forced to work in scam compounds across Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Reports indicated that local radio broadcasts and intelligence discussions in Region 9 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao pointed to possible connections between the arrested operators and human trafficking networks. Meanwhile, Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng stated his government is reaching out to Philippine law enforcement agencies regarding the case, noting that Chinese law prohibits citizens from gambling overseas or working for foreign gambling companies.

Deportation Proceedings and Visa Violations Await Detainees

The 244 detained foreign nationals are currently undergoing processing by the Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation. Reports indicated that the individuals face investigation for immigration offenses, including working without required visas and illegal entry, alongside potential human trafficking-related charges under Republic Act No. 11862, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022.

Reports indicated that the recovered mobile phones, laptops, and SIM cards are undergoing forensic examination to determine their exact role in the suspected online fraud operations. Individuals issued deportation orders will face placement on the Bureau of Immigration blacklist, barring them from reentering the Philippines.