Chinese Nationals and Filipinos Arrested for Illegal Online Gambling

Police have arrested 44 Chinese nationals and nine Filipinos in Manila for defying government suspension of all amusement gatherings due to the Coronavirus lockdown.
 

DETAILS REVEALED FOLLOWING THE ARRESTS

The arrests were made on April 25, after an informant told police that armed men were loitering in Paranaque district. Police raided a house where Chinese nationals were resuming online gambling in violation of coronavirus lockdown rules.

“When we were about to verify if they were really armed as reported to us, they ran inside the building wherein the police caught individuals still operating,” recalled Paranaque police chief Robin Sarmiento.

Mr. Sarmiento said it was revealed that the Chinese nationals had no permits to operate in Paranaque district. Moreover, police officers found five guns and 1.34 million pesos (US$26,800) worth of cash.
 

PHILIPPINE OFFSHORE GAMING OPERATORS (POGO)

Run mostly by Chinese nationals, this system of online gambling has been linked to crimes such as prostitution, illegal drugs, money laundering and kidnapping.

On April 21, presidential spokesman Harry Roque claimed that the operations provide financial resources to President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration.

Roque said during an interview that POGOs are part of an industry that provides the president and the government with cash resources. 

The spokesman went on saying: “Our question will be what risks does the reopening of the POGO industry pose.” 

There has been no confirmation from authorities that Duterte has allowed the resumption of offshore gambling operations during the coronavirus lockdown.