Twenty Chinese nationals were arrested and their male compatriot was rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from an illegally operating Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Paranaque City.
In a statement issued on Friday, Feb. 28, the NBI said the operation was conducted by operatives of the NBI Special Task Force (NBI-STF) last Feb. 25.
"The agents of NBI-STF raided the office of the said POGO company, leading to the rescue of the kidnapped victim and the arrest of his captor, Subject Liu Zhi Tao,” it said.
“During the operation, the agents of NBI-STF also uncovered a fully operational scam hub, revealing that the foreign nationals working inside were engaged in online scamming activities,” it also said.
After the operation, the NBI said the 20 arrested Chinese nationals were charged before the Paranaque City Prosecutor’s Office with social engineering schemes in violation of Section 4(b)(1) of Republic Act (RA) No. 12010, the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFSA), in relation to RA No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Liu Zhi Tao was also charged with serious illegal detention in violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), it added.
The NBI said the operation stemmed from a complaint made by the wife of a Chinese kidnapped victim.
“She alleged that her husband, who worked as a customer service representative (CSR) for a POGO company operating under the trade name ‘LWE,’ was being held against his will by his employers,” it said.