76 foreigners nabbed in POGO-like operation in Cubao, Quezon City

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Seventy-six foreigners were arrested during a raid on a suspected illegal POGO-like operation in Cubao, Quezon City, on October 12, 2026.

In a “24 Oras” report by Oscar Oida on Tuesday, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) apprehended 74 Chinese and two Burmese who were suspected of being involved in scams.

“Batay doon sa report po ng ating Intelligence Division, ano po ito, investment scam activities po using online modalities,” BI spokesperson Atty. Anisha Hassan said.

(Based on the report from our Intelligence Division, these were investment scam activities using online modalities.)

“We suspect these are the remaining foreigners who did not comply with the directive for POGO operators and POGO employees to leave the country. So nakikita natin parang nag-evolve sila (so we can see that they seem to have evolved) from the technical POGO operations,” she added.

The raid was conducted under a mission order and to enforce the Anti-POGO Act of 2025.

According to Oida's report, the arrested individuals went through inquest proceedings and are set to face deportation proceedings.

The AFP said it is investigating whether the establishment posed a security threat, given its proximity to Camp Aguinaldo.

“We are to look into its other implications. I think it’s too early; I cannot yet confirm, but an investigation is already ongoing on the matter. So to connect to other activities that concern the matter of national security,” AFP Col. Xerxes Trinidad said.

The AFP reiterated its commitment to coordinating with relevant agencies and suppressing national security threats.

In Zamboanga Sibugay, 244 “mostly Chinese” POGO workers were previously arrested.

According to Oida, several of them are currently undergoing deportation proceedings, while 51 will serve as witnesses and undergo further investigation. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/NB, GMA News