The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that one of the six Koreans arrested for allegedly running an illegal offshore gaming and scam hub in a Pasay City hotel basement is a blacklisted alien.
Key Arrest Details
The suspect was blacklisted in 2023 but remained in hiding.
Another Korean had a valid 9G employment visa, but it was issued for a different company.
One suspect was on a lapsed tourist visa, while the others had various resident visas.
Possible Consequences
Visa Revocation & Deportation – The BI stated that even those with valid visas may face revocation and deportation due to immigration law violations.
Criminal Charges – The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the PNP-CIDG are conducting further investigations, which could lead to criminal cases.
Evidence Seized
Computers & USBs suspected of storing cryptocurrency wallets.
Hundreds of OTP (One-Time Password) generators, likely used in scams.
Hotel Management Under Investigation
PAOCC questions how the illegal POGO operated within the hotel.
The hotel may face criminal charges and possible closure if found complicit.
“This serves as a warning to hotels: they must screen their tenants carefully,” said PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue efforts to crack down on illegal POGO operations in the country.