Marbil stands firm in attack on ‘mother of all scam centers’

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief General Rommel Marbil on Sunday, November 3, 2024, vowed to further intensify the campaign against illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogo) in relation to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order. to all Pogos in the country from January 1.

In a statement, Marbil commended the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), led by Maj. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga, for its recent successful operation that dismantled the so-called “mother of all scam hubs” at Century Peak Tower in Manila last week.

“This operation is a testament to the dedication of our PNP-ACG personnel, whose relentless pursuit of justice has exposed and disrupted a major hub of criminal activity linked to online scams, illegal gambling and human trafficking,” Marbil said.

“We still have two months to go to clear the country of these illegal Pogos,” he added.

On October 29, police elements from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), led by Major General Sidney Hernia and other PNP units, including the PNP-ACG, attacked a 40-story building on Adriatico Street in Manila inside, which had reportedly become a police station. central hub for several Pogo operations, where hundreds of individuals are involved in illegal activities, including 69 foreigners.

The building is said to be where undocumented Pogo workers continued their activities after their businesses from different parts of the country were raided and closed by authorities, including one linked to dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

The operation received strong support from Manila Mayor Honey Lacuña, who expressed appreciation for the PNP’s success and praised their unwavering commitment to public safety and the rule of law.

Lacuña recognized the PNP’s swift and decisive action as a crucial step in protecting Manila’s communities from illegal activities related to cybercrime, human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

Marbil noted that the operation serves as a strong demonstration of the PNP-ACG’s expertise and commitment to effective law enforcement.

He also clarified that operations targeting cybercrime will be carried out solely by the PNP and the National Bureau of Immigration as these agencies have the specialized skills necessary to tackle such crimes.

Marbil reiterated the PNP’s unwavering commitment to filing charges against all persons involved, including the owner of the facility, as forensic analysis of the evidence continues.

It may be recalled that the 69 detained foreign nationals working in the so-called “mother of all scam centers” were released pending the filing of charges against them.

“This operation not only exposes the vast reach of illegal Pogo activities, but also strengthens law enforcement’s unwavering resolve to dismantle criminal networks, maintain public safety and uphold the rule of law in every sector of cyber enforcement,” Marbil said .

Earlier, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) labeled the raid a “flawed operation” after being “falsely linked” to it.

“We never release any foreigner caught in Pogos because all our operations are always well coordinated with the DOJ-IACAT (Department of Justice).Inter-Agency Council against Human Trafficking) and the Bureau of Immigration. Please do not associate PAOCC with flawed operations,” PAOCC said.

During his State of the Nation address in July, Marcos gave Pogos until December 31 to cease operations to end the chaos they have caused in the country.

He issued the order after conducting raids on two major illegal Pogo hubs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga, which exposed his involvement in illegal activities such as human trafficking, kidnapping and “even murder” under the guise of a legitimate operation. . (TPM/SunStar Philippines)