17 Taiwanese arrested in "POGO-like" operation

Seventeen Taiwanese nationals were arrested in a quiet subdivision in Banilad, Cebu City in what authorities described as “POGO-like” activities, exposing a sophisticated online “romance scam” operation.

- Jonnavie Villa, Staff Member

The raid was conducted on May 15, 2025, by operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation's Special Task Force (NBI-STF) and the NBI-Central Visayas Regional Office (CEVRO).

Of the 17 arrested, 16 were men and one was a woman. Authorities confirmed that six of them are fugitives with standing warrants in Taiwan.

During a press conference, Taiwanese police officer Matt Shen revealed that some of those arrested were members of the notorious "Four Seas Gang" — a criminal syndicate involved in fraud, money laundering, and drug-related offenses.

According to investigators, the suspects used pre-written scripts and emotional spiels to carry out romance scams that targeted fellow Taiwanese nationals as well as Malaysians and Chinese.

"Makikita natin sa loob ng bahay napaka simple lang, walang activities sa labas. Nasa loob ng basement park ng bahay doon sila nag-ooperate," said NBI-STF Agent Ranier Dela Cruz, one of the lead operatives.

Atty. Van Angluben, Executive Officer of NBI-STF, said the group had been under surveillance since May 13, following intelligence from Taiwanese authorities and the Philippine Navy's Naval Intelligence and Security Group (NISG) indicating that high-profile fugitives had moved from Metro Manila to Cebu.