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Authorities apprehended 244 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, in simultaneous raids on two suspected illegal POGO sites in Zamboanga Sibugay on October 2, 2026, the Bureau of Immigration said.
Authorities arrested 244 foreign nationals in simultaneous raids on suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) sites in Zamboanga Sibugay on Friday, October 2, 2026.
Largest POGO Bust Unfolds
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) described the operation as the largest POGO bust of 2026. The raids took place in Barangay Kimos in Siay town and Barangay Tandiong Muslim in Alicia town, both in the southern region of Mindanao, according to a BI statement released late Saturday, October 3. At the Siay site, authorities arrested 113 foreigners: 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians, and one Hong Kong resident. The BI said those detained were mostly Chinese.
At the Alicia site, 131 foreigners were apprehended. The BI said this group was mostly Chinese and also included citizens of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar, also known as Burmese. The BI said the identities and nationalities of those arrested remain subject to verification. Immigration authorities are investigating alleged immigration violations, including working without the required work visa and, in some cases, illegal entry.
The foreigners are also being investigated for alleged involvement in illegal POGO-related online activities. The government is looking into possible human trafficking-related offenses by a number of those arrested, while the rest will be deported. Authorities seized large quantities of computer equipment, mobile phones, laptops, cellular SIM cards, and around 3,000 mobile phones at the Siay site. The equipment is believed to have been used in organized online scam operations.
Deportations and Enforcement Actions
The operation was conducted by the BI Intelligence Division and its Mindanao units, together with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including other law enforcement agencies. Those issued deportation orders will be placed on the BI blacklist and barred from reentering the Philippines. The foreigners will undergo deportation proceedings for their alleged violations of Philippine immigration laws. The crackdown is part of the government's continuing enforcement against POGO activities.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the ban on POGOs in 2024, citing grounds that organized crime groups used them as a cover for human trafficking, money laundering, online fraud, kidnappings, and murder. In October 2025, Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, which prohibits offshore gaming operations and the establishment or operation of POGO sites in the country.
Similar operations have been conducted in different parts of the country in recent years, targeting suspected illegal offshore gaming operations. BI Commissioner Joel Viado said his agency is firmly implementing the government's policy. We will continue to enforce our immigration laws against foreign nationals who violate the conditions of their stay and ensure that the Philippines is not used as a base for illegal activities, Viado said in the statement.
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gmanews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators Zamboanga Sibugay Bureau Of Immigration Illegal Entry Online Scams POGO Crackdown Zamboanga Sibugay Raids Foreign Nationals Arrested Anti-POGO Act 2025
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