MANILA, Philippines – Authorities on Friday, October 2, apprehended at least 244 foreigners in two municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay in what the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said was the “largest” crackdown on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) so far in 2026.
The simultaneous operations targeted suspected POGO-related activities in Barangays Kimos of Siay town, and Barangay Tandiong Muslim of Alicia town, the BI said in a statement on Sunday, October 4.
In Siay, authorities nabbed 113 foreigners, including 110 Chinese, 2 Cambodians, and 1 Hong Konger. Another 131 were apprehended in Alicia, mostly Chinese, along with Malaysians, Indonesians, and Burmese.
The BI said the identities and nationalities remain subject to verification. The raids were conducted by the BI Intelligence Division and its Mindanao units, with the National Bureau of Investigation and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The foreigners are being investigated for alleged immigration violations, including working without the required work visa, and, in some cases, illegal entry. The BI also cited their alleged involvement in illegal POGO-related online activities.
In Siay, authorities also seized 78 computer monitors, laptops, cellular SIM cards, and around 3,000 mobile phones. The equipment are believed to have been used in an organized online scam operations.
The foreigners will undergo deportation proceedings for their alleged violations of Philippine immigration laws. Those issued deportation orders will be placed on the BI’s blacklist and barred from reentering the Philippines.
The operation is part of the government’s continuing crackdown on POGOs activities, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered banned during his third State of the Nation Address in 2024. 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.
But POGO operations have continued despite the ban. Authorities have carried out raids and arrests in different parts of the country in recent years, targeting suspected illegal offshore gaming operations.
BI Commissioner Joel Viado, however, said that 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,” he said. – Rappler.com
