Philippine authorities raided a suspected illegal online gaming and cyberscam complex in a central province and took into custody more than 160 people — including two Taiwanese — on suspicion of committing Internet-based crimes, officials said on Sunday.
The raid on Saturday by more than 100 government agents, backed by military intelligence, on a resort compound in Lapu-Lapu City was part of an ongoing crackdown after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered a ban in July on widespread — and mostly Chinese-run — online gaming operations that cater mostly to clients in China, where gambling is banned.
Photo: Philippine Bureau of Immigration / AP
Marcos said then that the massive illegal gambling operations have ignored Philippine laws with large-scale violations of regulations and also committed other crimes, including financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murder.
The raid at the Tourist Garden Resort, which has 10 buildings with swimming pools, karaoke bars and restaurants, came after the Indonesian Embassy in Manila requested the rescue of eight Indonesians who were reportedly forced to work in the online gaming hub, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission said.
At least 162 foreign nationals “were found working in three separate scam farms within the compound," the commission said without elaborating.
Such crimes include fraudulent love, gaming and investment schemes online that have defrauded victims of large amounts of money, Philippine officials said.
The two Taiwanese, 83 Chinese, 70 Indonesians, six Myanmar nationals and a Malaysian are to be flown to Manila to face an investigation by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and possible deportation, it added.
The owner of the hotel compound was arrested and could face criminal complaints, including for harboring illegally staying foreigners, the commission and immigration officials said.
“We will suggest to the authorities to file cases against resort owners who allow their properties to be used by illegal aliens in their covert operations,” Tansingco said. “This will serve as a warning to those who might attempt to start illegal online gambling operations.”
Marcos’ move to ban the Chinese-run online gambling outfits — estimated to number more than 400 across the Philippines and believed to be employing tens of thousands of Chinese and Southeast Asian nationals — was welcomed by Beijing.
It has led to the shutdown of several sprawling complexes where authorities suspect thousands of Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesians and others mostly from Southeast Asia have been illegally recruited and forced to work in oppressive conditions.
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