4 Chinese Nationals Arrested in Anti-POGO Operations in Muntinlupa

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently arrested in Muntinlupa four Chinese nationals for allegedly engaging in illegal activities related to Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGO. Members of the BI Fugitive Search Unit apprehended Qiao Zhong, 30; Tang Ke, 31; Liu Peng, 35, and Zhang Caiyu, 42. They were caught in the act of engaging in cyber fraud, FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy said. BI records showed that Zhang, a former POGO worker, has an existing blacklist order. The BI conducted the operation after receiving information about alleged POGO-related activities at a house along Montillano street in Alabang. The POGO industry in the Philippines, while a significant contributor to the economy, has also been a source of concern regarding labor rights, public order, money laundering, and illegal activities such as this. The government has been considering stricter regulations for POGOs, and this arrest underscores a continued effort to crack down on illegal operations within the sector.