Philippine authorities raided an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub on the 21st floor of Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City, on Wednesday, March 19, 20251. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) apprehended around 200 individuals of various nationalities, including Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Malaysians, Taiwanese, Brazilians, and Hong Kong nationals1.
The business was identified as Flying Future Company, which was found facilitating online gaming services in multiple countries, including Japan, China, Germany, France, Indonesia, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, and Portugal1. PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz also said the company was involved in cryptocurrency transactions1. Authorities were initially serving an arrest warrant for a certain Dennis E. Esguerra, who was facing robbery charges; the warrant was issued by Judge Rico Sebastian D. Liwanag of the National Capital Region's Regional Trial Court, Branch 136, Makati City, on February 281.
RCBC Plaza said in a statement on Thursday, March 20, that its management conducted due diligence on Flying Future's application, noting that the company identified itself as an "IT support company"1. RCBC also said its tenant Flying Future had the necessary business permit from the Makati City government1. RCBC Plaza General Manager Marjorie Abot further noted that Flying Future was not among the POGO companies whose licenses were revoked and ordered shut by Pagcor on March 31, 2024, and said there was no reason for RCBC Plaza to question the nature of the tenant's business1.
"Flying Future was not among the POGO companies whose licenses were revoked and ordered shut by Pagcor on March 31, 2024"
Although the POGO operator claimed to have a special class business process outsourcing (BPO) permit, Cruz clarified that it lacked proper accreditation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)1. Authorities found text blasters and an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher, devices capable of intercepting mobile phone traffic and tracking users, and Cruz said they were investigating if the hub was also involved in scamming1. For three years the POGO operated under the radar in the Makati Central Business District, in the same building complex where the embassies of South Africa, Canada, and Australia and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office are located1.
In 2024, Marcos announced the complete ban of POGOs, which have been plagued with scandals related to money laundering, immigration bribery, illegal recruitment, and human trafficking1. Despite the ban, authorities continue to uncover operational POGOs; early this March, PAOCC raided a POGO at PBCom Tower in Makati, but its workers managed to flee before the raid1.
What it means for players
The raid concerns an operator that PAGCOR did not license, so any gambling it offered sat outside the regulated market covered by the Philippines' ban on offshore gaming (POGOs). Players in the Philippines can check whether a venue or platform holds a valid PAGCOR gaming license, and the wider picture of who licenses what is set out in the guide to gambling regulators and licenses in Asia. The presence of text blasters and an IMSI catcher, devices capable of intercepting mobile phone traffic and tracking users, is relevant to anyone who used services connected to this operation, though no finding on their use against players has been reported1. The raid does not change the status of licensed land-based or online operators in the country, which are covered in the guide to gambling in the Philippines.
What happens next
RCBC Plaza and its management said they will fully cooperate with government agencies and authorities in the investigation1. Cruz said authorities were investigating whether the POGO hub was also involved in scamming1. No further steps, charges or outcomes have been reported.
Sources1 sources
- Authorities raid POGO hub at RCBC Plaza in Makati, rappler.com
