NBI raids suspected POGO hub in Mindoro
MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives raided last Saturday a suspected online gaming hub at a resort in Puerta Galera, Oriental Mindoro and arrested its owner, a Chinese national.
With a search warrant issued by Judge Josephine Caranzo of Calapan City Regional Trial Court Branch 39, authorities swooped down on Puerto Galera Seaview Resort in Barangay Sinandingan where they found around 40 Chinese as well as gambling equipment and paraphernalia.
NBI-MIMAROPA director Gelacio Bongngat said they found the Chinese hiding inside some of the rooms at the resort. Arrested was resort owner Stefan Cheng. The NBI raiders checked the passport details of the other Chinese and later let them go, as they were not found gambling. Cheng is facing charges for violating Presidential Decree 1602, or the law against illegal gambling.
“When we entered the rooms, we found baccarat tables, mahjong tables and other gambling paraphernalia,” Bongngat said.
He said their informant described the place as noisy every night, with many people gambling inside.
The NBI also said laptops found in the premises were not confiscated because they were not part of the search warrant. Authorities said they would deepen their investigation and, if necessary, apply for another search warrant so they could gather more information to prove that there is Philippine online gaming operator (POGO) at the resort.
Mayor Rocky Ilagan denounced the raid, insisting that the resort was not involved in POGO activities. He stressed he would not allow POGO operations in Puerto Galera.
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has requested the Pasay City Police to investigate an alleged P10-million assassination plot against him and Sen. Risa Hontiveros that he said might be linked to their ongoing probe on illegal POGOs and the involvement of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
A 22-minute vlog on YouTube on July 13 under the name Pinas Insider supposedly carried the death threats.
“I am writing to formally report an incident involving threats made against my life. These threats appear to be a consequence of my active participation investigation on the Philippine offshore gaming
