Billie Information – Based on reports from the Philippine GMA and other media, on the evening of August 1 local time, several government agencies in the Philippines launched a raid on an online gaming company on P. Zamora Street in Pasay City and detained about 650 employees. Among them are Chinese citizens.
Philippine Department of Justice Interagency Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT), National Bureau of Investigation Office of Anti-Human Trafficking (NBI-AHTRAD), Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC), and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Council (PAOCC) Coordinated the raid.
According to a search warrant issued by Judge Maria Victoria Soriano of the 24th Division of the Manila City District Court, law enforcement officers raided the gaming company located in the SKK building. It is reported that the detained persons include more than 400 Filipinos, while the rest are foreigners such as Chinese and Indians.
Authorities found hundreds of cell phones, computers, SIM cards, and other devices during a search of the five-story building. Additionally, officers found devices with romance scam scripts and SMS promotions.
In addition, during the raid, authorities found that some employees' screens were still chatting with potential victims, mostly European and American.
Philippine Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Felix Ty said the center was involved in a "love scam" and a "cryptocurrency scam."
He added: "Typically, in these types of operations, we have informants within the company who help us gather intelligence and leads during the incubation period. Law enforcement will build a case based on evidence and apply for a search warrant."
Philippine authorities are still verifying the actual owners of the gaming operation, but they suspect Chinese nationals are behind it.
According to corporate documents, the raided gaming companies had licenses issued by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Still, authorities allege that some are simply using this legal status to conceal their fraudulent activities.
Authorities are taking notes on the detainees and will request the assistance of the embassy holding the foreign national to determine the next steps.
Authorities will also learn how they are using SIM cards to commit crimes under the full implementation of SIM identity verification laws.
