POGO hub raided in Bataan

Fifty-seven foreigners and 358 Filipinos were rounded up during a raid yesterday afternoon on a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bagac, Bataan that is suspected to be involved in criminal activities.

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS

Armed with a search warrant issued by a court in Malolos, Bulacan, teams from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, swooped down on the Centro Park, a vast compound in Barangay Parang.

Soldiers on military trucks were seen entering the compound as part of security measures.

Probers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were initially stationed outside as they mapped out their operation targeting Central One, a hub which occupies buildings within the compound.

PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said the raid was carried out after they received reports that Central One was actually a POGO.

"Based on our information, that's a POGO operation," he told dzBB.