Forty-nine foreigners were arrested Friday night, March 14, in a commercial building in Pasay City where they were operating online hubs similar to the now banned Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

Agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) acted on information that foreigners were working for an online scam hub under the guise of legitimate digitial services and online marketing company.

Based on a mission order, BI and NBI operatives conducted an operation at a commercial building along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

During the operation, the BI said that the operatives discovered that the employees were engaged in cyber-enabled fraud, targeting victims both locally and internationally through various digital platforms. 

Worse, it said, the arrested foreigners  were found working without appropriate visas, with two identified as having active derogatory records.

Those with derogatory records were identified by the BI as a 29-year-old male Bangladeshi who is under a Watchlist Order (WLO) for alleged involvement in illegal recruitment activities, and a 25-year-old male Pakistani who is reportedly involved in financial fraud.

The BI said the arrested foreign nationals are going to face deportation proceedings and subsequent blacklisting after booking and documentation procedures.

It said that Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado cited the joint efforts of the BI and NBI in arresting these illegal workers, as their operation played a huge role in dismantling illegal POGO operations in the country.

Viado said: "This successful operation is a testament to the strong collaboration between the BI and the NBI. We remain steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the country from illegal foreign operations that undermine our laws and exploit our people."

"We will continue to intensify our enforcement operations to protect national security and uphold the integrity of our immigration policies," he said. 

He assured that the government will not tolerate any form of exploitation or fraudulent activity that might harm the people and the economy.