DAVAO CITY—The National Bureau of Investigation is monitoring the presence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in Davao region after a raid on a POGO facility in Panabo City.
The operation by the agents from NBI Southern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO) was conducted at 2:00 a.m. December 6 in Purok 6, Barangay Manay. It uncovered a POGO Hub inside a warehouse where they found 59 persons – 55 of who are Chinese nationals, three Malaysians and one Fiilipino.
“This time we are very alert about these POGOs kung meron kaming malaman kaagad, vineverify naming yan kaagad,” says NBI-SEMRO Regional Director Atty. Arcelito Albao.
(If we know something we verify it immediately.)
The NBI said these POGO operators came from Manila after the crackdown on POGO operations. The operators of the POGO hub are known as Jinsheng International, a Chinese firm. It had been operating for three months already.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr in his State-of-the Nation Address announced a nationwide ban on POGO and on November 8, issued Executive Order 74 immediately banning these POGO, Internet Gaming and other offshore gaming operations.
Atty Albao said that except from the Panabo POGO hub they have not received any information on POGOs in the region but he said they will not hesitate in verifying if they receive reports of such presence.
According to Agent Elias Leaño Jr., the Panabo operation stemmed from a plea for help from a Malaysian national named Ruby Lim who was working in the Panabo hub.
“Nagbigay ng mandate (the NBI central office) to rescue Ruby Lim kaya nagconduct kami surveillance, then we were able to discover there was a POGO hub,” Leano said.
(The NBI central office gave a mandate to rescue Ruby Lim that is why we conducted surveillance then we were able to discover that there was a POGO hub.)
The subject of the rescue operation was not in the area as she was with other individuals aboard a van and an SUV who left the area before the raid.
Atty Albao said they are conducting pursuit operations against the fleeing POGO personnel who they believe are the managers of the hub. They also have to rescue Ruby Lim, who provided the exact location of the hub to the authorities. (RGA)
