Authorities arrested 27 Chinese nationals during separate raids on alleged illegal POGO and crypto scam hubs inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, Pampanga on Tuesday, August 5.
In a report by Edniel Parrosa, the operations were carried out by the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3), in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Intelligence Service, under Mission Order 2025-219 issued by the Bureau of Immigration.
The first raid took place at Greenville Resort in Barangay Jose Abad Santos, Mabalacat City, where 24 Chinese nationals were apprehended. Authorities also caught eight Filipino women suspected of participating in online scam activities.
A follow-up operation at Clark Hills Village resulted in the arrest of three more Chinese nationals linked to phishing and other forms of online scams.
Numerous computer workstations and electronic devices were seized during the operations and will undergo digital forensic examination.
PRO3 Regional Director PBGen Ponce Peñones Jr. said their crackdown on illegal POGO operations in the region is ongoing.
"We are sending a clear message—Central Luzon is not a haven for scammers and exploiters. We will continue to act decisively and protect those being victimized by these syndicates," Peñones emphasized.
