Mayor Emi joins PAOOC raid vs Pasay POGO hub

Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano joined the raid conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) at a Philippine Gaming Offshore Operators (POGO) hub on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano with PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz (Photo from Pasay PIO)

Rubiano said the raid was conducted af five-storey building located near a mall in Barangay 76.

From the 455 individuals arrested, 404 were foreigners including Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Korean and Vietnamese nationals. The rest were Filipinos.

She explained that the suspects were found engaged in illicit operations such as love scams, investment scams, and crypto-currency scams.

PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, who also joined the raid, praised the city government for its relentless campaign to end POGO operations in the city.

The mayor noted that she already came out with a directive to the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) and the Pasay City Police to end all illegal POGO operations in the city.

 “Even before the pronouncement of our President – Bongbong Marcos Jr., talagang ginagawa na naming ang paghihigpit sa mga POGO operators. At noong banggitin ng ating Pangulo ang ‘total ban’ sa POGO sa kanyang huling State of the Nation Address (SONA), talagang ipinatupad natin ito (Even before the pronouncement of our President Bonbong Marcos Jr. regarding the total ban of POGO operations in the country during his State of the Nation Address, we  were already implementing countermeasures to mitigate and put an end on their operations), Rubiano said.

Since June, 2024, a total of 164 POGO hubs were shut down by the city government.

The mayor also stressed that the city government will continue its operations against POGO operators, especially those operating “guerilla type.”