Philippines Arrests 244 Foreign Workers in POGO Raids
Philippine authorities arrested 244 foreign nationals, predominantly Chinese citizens, during coordinated raids on suspected illegal online gaming and scam operations in Zamboanga Sibugay on October 2, 2026. The Bureau of Immigration identified the sweep as the largest enforcement action of its kind targeting banned offshore gaming hubs for the year.
Simultaneous Raids Target Mindanao Scam Hubs
The Bureau of Immigration, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines executed simultaneous mission orders at two distinct locations in the southern region of Mindanao, according to the immigration bureau. The Bureau of Immigration Philippines reported that 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians, and one Hong Kong resident were detained at a site in Barangay Tandiong Muslim in Alicia. A second operation in Barangay Kimos in Siay yielded another 131 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese alongside citizens of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar.
Operating forces recovered roughly 2,000 mobile phones, along with numerous laptops, desktop computers, SIM cards, and other electronic equipment. The The Manila Times noted that suspects in Alicia were found conducting operations inside tents.
Enforcement of the National POGO Ban
The morning operation stemmed from intelligence gathering by the National Bureau of Investigation and the immigration bureau into suspected clandestine online gambling activities. Philstar.com reported that local officials and residents alerted authorities about foreigners and local accomplices operating unauthorized networks using sophisticated electronic facilities. The sweep supports Executive Order No. 74, signed in 2024 to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators, and Republic Act No. 12312, known as the Anti-POGO Act of 2025.
Immigration chief Joel Viado stated that the agency will continue enforcing immigration laws against foreign nationals who violate the conditions of their stay. The government is currently investigating potential human trafficking violations tied to the operations, while non-compliant workers face formal deportation proceedings and blacklisting.
Authorities Verify Legal Status of 244 Detainees
Authorities have not yet finalized the individual legal statuses or confirmed the full scope of unlawful activities for all 244 detainees. Military officials emphasized that the mere presence of the foreign nationals at the raided sites does not definitively prove individual criminal involvement. The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the arrests.