The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and police units raided the 5.8-hectare Lucky South 99 compound in Porac, Pampanga, for a second time on June 5, following an initial raid on June 41. More than 190 Filipino and foreign workers were rescued from the site, operated by Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc., according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer1. The same report also cites a figure of 158 foreign and 36 Filipino workers rescued1.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio, speaking at a press briefing outside the compound after the second raid, did not rule out possible culpability by Porac officials1.
"We will check if there's negligence on the part of local government officials. They are the first eyes and ears of the government, so if something like this is happening in their backyard, it's up to the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) to investigate them."
Porac mayor Jaime Capil denied suggestions that he protected the operator, saying at a flag ceremony on June 10 that his office did not issue a business permit to Lucky South 99 because it was on the Bureau of Fire Protection's negative list1. The Porac public information office said no mayor's permit was issued to Lucky South for 2024, and that the company's failure to meet mandatory requirements led to the nonrenewal of its permit1. According to the PAOCC, Lucky South 99 had been shut down by the DILG in September 2022 and had resumed operating without a license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. since late last year1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Compound | Lucky South 99, 5.8 hectares, Porac, Pampanga |
| First raid | June 4 |
| Second raid | June 5 |
| Workers rescued | More than 190 (also reported as 158 foreign and 36 Filipino) |
| Permit status | No mayor's permit for 2024; no PAGCOR license since late last year |
| Prior shutdown | DILG, September 2022 |
Lawmakers renewed calls to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators, or Pogos, after the raids. Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers urged the government to declare Pogos a serious threat to national security, and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez cited the recent raids in Bamban, Tarlac, and Porac as evidence that the hubs had become fronts for illegal activities1. Rodriguez called for approval of House Resolution No. 1197, which he filed, and House Bill No. 5082 filed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.; the House committee on games and amusements approved both measures in February1.
What it means for players
The raid concerns an offshore gaming hub serving overseas customers rather than a venue open to walk-in gamblers in the Philippines. For anyone gambling in the country, the practical points are licensing and legality. According to the PAOCC, the Lucky South 99 site had no PAGCOR license and no mayor's permit for 2024, meaning any operation there was unlicensed1. Players using online platforms connected to such compounds have no regulatory recourse, and the report links the raided hub to scams and trafficking1. General guidance on identifying unlicensed operators and reporting them is set out in our guide to gambling scams and safety in Asia. The legal position for players in the country is covered in our guide to gambling in the Philippines, and the ban on mainland Chinese customers that lawmakers referenced is explained in our guide to gambling in China.
What happens next
The DILG has been asked to investigate whether local officials were negligent, according to the PAOCC1. The House committee on games and amusements approved the Pogo ban measures in February, and Rodriguez said Senate inquiries could help the proposals advance1. No date has been reported for a vote or for the outcome of any investigation.
Sources1 sources
- Porac mayor says he’s no Pogo ‘protector’, newsinfo.inquirer.net
