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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 7 South Koreans arrested in suspected POGO hub in Pampanga

7 South Koreans arrested in suspected POGO hub in Pampanga

Published Oct 19, 2025 04:38 pm
Seven South Korean nationals have been arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pampanga.
The operation of POGOs has been banned by President Marcos since July 2024 and the BI has started deporting aliens who used to work with the firms.
“We will not allow foreign nationals to continue online gaming activities in the Philippines,” declared BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado in a statement on Sunday, Oct. 19.
He warned that foreigners who insist on operating online gaming activities will be arrested and deported.
The seven Koreans were arrested by operatives of the BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) last Oct. 13 inside a unit of a posh condominium building inside the Clark Freeport Zone, the BI said.
It said that the bureau’s FSU initially targeted a South Korean fugitive who was said to be operating in the area, but during the course of the operation, the subject was nowhere to be found.
“Instead, the team encountered seven male Koreans who were caught in the act of manning workstations suspected to be connected to online gambling activities,” it also said.
It added that the suspects were engaged in small-scale illegal operations using a betting platform linked to various sporting events worldwide.
One of those arrested was identified by the BI as Ha Dong Jun, 23, who has been wanted by the bureau since January 2025 for failing to leave the country after the shutdown of POGO operations.
All of those arrested are detained pending their deportation.
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