Law enforcers in the Philippines opened the first batch of vaults at the Baofu compound of Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac, on April 8, seizing P5.5 million, $444, 20,000 Vietnamese dong and 20 Hong Kong dollars, along with passports and documents1. The compound had been raided by authorities the previous month1.
When the 15 remaining vaults out of the 27 discovered at the site were opened on April 11, authorities recovered around P2.1 million more in cash of various currencies, plus seed phrases, crypto wallets, mobile phones, flash drives, documents, identification cards, handcuffs and an expandable metal baton1. Seed phrases and crypto wallets are used in dealing with cryptocurrencies1. The latest haul raised the total cash confiscated from the 27 vaults to over P7 million1.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio said the digital evidence found in the vaults could strengthen the case against Zun Yuan, its owners and incorporators, and that all of it will undergo forensic examination with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group1. He added that confiscated employment visa IDs and alien certificates of registration will also undergo verification1.
"Nakabibigla pero typical na yung mga posas, baton sa mga POGOs. So siguro sa mga pagkakataon na hindi nila namimeet yung kanilang mga quotas, pinaparusahan sila."
Among the documents found in one of the vaults was a blacklist lift order issued in April 2023 by the Bureau of Immigration for a Chinese named Wang Shuichao1. Casio said the lift order was handled on a case to case basis, that all foreign nationals in POGOs are blacklisted from entering the country, and that Shuichao is not in their database1.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ordered the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze and preserve the entire 10-hectare Baofu compound and its 36 structures, including nine villas and 38 vehicles, with the facility placed under PAOCC custody1.
| Date | Action | Amount or items |
|---|---|---|
| April 8 | First batch of vaults opened | P5.5 million, $444, 20,000 Vietnamese dong, 20 Hong Kong dollars, passports, documents1 |
| April 11 | 15 remaining vaults opened | Around P2.1 million in various currencies, seed phrases, crypto wallets, phones, flash drives, documents, IDs, handcuffs, baton1 |
| Total | 27 vaults | Over P7 million in cash1 |
A Malaysian and a Vietnamese, identified as Dylan and Danny, were among the foreign nationals who reported torture and abuse in the facility1. Dylan was bought for P300,000 to work for Zun Yuan, while Danny escaped from the Baofu compound on February 281. Both are detained at the Nasdake building in Pasay City with other foreign nationals set to be deported, including six alleged Chinese fugitives1.
Eight foreigners charged with alleged violations of human trafficking and serious illegal detention were arraigned on April 11 at the Regional Trial Court Branch 66 in Capas1. The case of the Filipina was dismissed, and all foreign nationals pleaded not guilty except for one who filed a motion to extend the preliminary investigation through his legal counsel, which was granted, according to Casio1.
What it means for players
The raid and the vault seizures concern an offshore gaming operation licensed in the Philippines, not the domestic casinos and e-gaming sites that most players in the country use. The items recovered, including handcuffs and a baton, point to the conditions inside the compound rather than to the games themselves. Casio said such restraints are typical for POGOs, suggesting workers were punished when they missed quotas1. For anyone weighing a job offer at an offshore operator, the case shows that recruitment can involve debt and confinement rather than ordinary employment. The Gambling Scams and Safety in Asia guide covers how to report suspected scam operations, and the Philippines gambling guide sets out how licensed gambling is regulated.
What happens next
The digital evidence will go to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group for forensic examination, and the confiscated employment visa IDs and alien certificates of registration will be verified1. The foreign nationals detained in Pasay City are set to be deported1. The arraignment of the eight foreigners charged with human trafficking and serious illegal detention has taken place, with one defendant granted more time for preliminary investigation1. No dates have been reported for the completion of the forensic examination, the verification of the IDs, or the deportations.
