Authorities raided the 10-hectare compound of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Tarlac in early March 2024, rescuing 499 foreign workers, according to reporting by the Inquirer1. The raid was carried out under two court-issued search warrants for alleged human trafficking and serious illegal detention of Pogo workers1.
In April, the Palace directed the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze and preserve the entire Zun Yuan compound, including its other assets1. The order followed the March operation and extended the state's action from the workers' rescue to the firm's property.
The raid became the subject of a Senate panel on women's hearing on May 7, 2024, where Bamban Mayor Alice Guo denied any connection to the firm. Senator Win Gatchalian said a billing statement from Tarlac II Electric Cooperative (Tarel Co) Inc. showed Zun Yuan's electric meter was registered under Guo's name, and that a vehicle seized during the raid was registered under her name1. Guo said she was the former landowner of the property and that the document only showed she applied for a temporary electricity connection for the entire compound in 20191. She also said she used to be an incorporator of Baofu, the compound where Zun Yuan is located, and that she once owned the vehicle found there but had sold it in 20201.
"Unang una po, hindi po ako konektado, hindi po ako operator, hindi po ako protector ng Pogo."
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Raid date | Early March 20241 |
| Location | Zun Yuan's 10-hectare compound, Tarlac1 |
| Legal basis | Two court-issued search warrants1 |
| Alleged offenses | Human trafficking; serious illegal detention of Pogo workers1 |
| Workers rescued | 499 foreign workers1 |
| April action | Palace directed AMLC to freeze and preserve the compound and other assets1 |
What it means for players
The raid and the asset freeze concern a Pogo operator, not a licensed retail gambling product, so the direct effect on ordinary bettors in the Philippines is limited. What the case does show is that Philippine authorities are acting against Pogo firms on criminal allegations, and that a compound tied to one operator can be raided and have its assets frozen by order of the Palace through the Anti-Money Laundering Council1. For anyone weighing where to gamble in the country, the case is a reminder that the Pogo sector carries legal and criminal risk distinct from regulated land-based or online operators. Background on how such operations work and how workers end up inside them is set out in our guide to what happens to workers inside a scam compound and in our wider coverage of gambling scams and safety in Asia. For the licensing picture in the country, see can I gamble in the Philippines.
What happens next
The Senate panel on women's hearing took up the allegations on May 7, 2024, with Guo denying ties to the firm1. No outcome of that hearing, and no further court or regulatory steps, have been reported in the source material.
Sources1 sources
- Bamban mayor denies ties to raided Pogo firm in Tarlac, newsinfo.inquirer.net
