Philippines arrests 244 suspects in online scam crackdown

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has conducted its largest crackdown on illegal online gaming operators in 2026, arresting over 200 mostly Chinese foreign workers, according to the immigration bureau. The military and other law enforcement agencies carried out the raids in Mindanao, apprehending 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians, and one Hong Kong resident at one location, and 131 more foreigners at another. The arrested individuals were mostly Chinese, along with citizens of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

The immigration bureau seized a significant amount of computer equipment, mobile phones, laptops, and SIM cards, as well as investigating potential human trafficking-related offenses involving some of the detainees. The remaining arrested individuals will be deported. Immigration chief Joel Viado stated that the government will not allow the Philippines to be used as a base for illegal activities, emphasizing that the raids are part of a larger effort to enforce immigration laws and combat illegal online gaming operations linked to organized crime, human trafficking, money laundering, online fraud, kidnappings, and murder.

The Philippine government banned local online gaming operators, known as POGOs, in 2024, citing their use as a cover for various criminal activities. Chinese embassy spokesman Ji Lingpeng confirmed that Chinese nationals are prohibited from gambling overseas or working for gambling companies under Chinese law.