Authorities raided and closed an Internet Gaming Licensee (formerly known as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) in Biñan City, Laguna on Tuesday night.
The Business Permit and Licensing Office of Biñan City, along with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, padlocked the New Wave Internet Gaming Licensee and its mother company New Wave Infotech Limited Philippines Inc. that occupied six floors of Southwoods Tower No. 2 in Barangay San Francisco.
The Police Regional Office 4-A said that New Wave Internet Gaming was raided through Mission Order No. 2024-279 and 280 issued by the PAOCC, the legal basis for the raids and arrests of those involved in the illegal operation of POGOs in the country.
The raid was interrupted by the property manager who sought a warrant before allowing them to enter.
But the PAOCC was allowed to proceed after it explained that a search warrant is no longer needed because the IGL is under the Pagcor.
Many computers were still in the offices but all their hard drives were gone.
New Wave Infotech Limited and New Wave Infotech Limited Philippines are registered with Pagcor and supervised by the Anti-Money Laundering Council until December 2023.
Meanwhile, a Chinese national was kidnapped by four compatriots and released in Cabuyao City, Laguna on Tuesday.
Police said the victim Ling was shot before he was released by the suspects in Barangay Diezmo.
Ling was taken by the police to a hospital.
The suspects used Ling's BMW X5 car with license plate 6149 as getaway vehicle.