by Newsdesk
Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR announced multiple arrests related to gambling scams and illegal activities on Thursday.
Sixteen individuals were detained at an office complex in Biñan, Laguna, for running an illegal online raffle on Facebook. The suspects were caught live streaming their 50th raffle on the Facebook page Lucky Dream 4, following a joint operation between PAGCOR and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco emphasized that these arrests are part of the agency’s commitment to combat illegal online gambling through enhanced collaboration with law enforcement. “We have been receiving reports of illegal online activities on social media platforms. As the country’s gaming regulator, it is our duty to protect the public – especially the youth – from these illegal gambling sites,” Tengco stated.
Lucky Dream 4 reportedly had 111,000 followers and offered second-hand modified motorcycles as raffle prizes. Tickets were sold for as little as Php40, with each raffle selling between 50,000 and 40,000 tickets, generating approximately Php1.8 million (US$31,330) per event.
In a separate operation, PAGCOR arrested ten Chinese nationals in Parañaque City for online scams. They are suspected of violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Alien Registration Act, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175).
According to PAGCOR Senior Vice President for Security Cluster Raul Villanueva, the group included seven males and three females, believed to be part of a network that escaped from a previous raid on a gaming compound in Bamban, Tarlac, last March. Nine Filipino female workers were rescued during the operation, while one Filipino male, a bodyguard, was arrested for possessing an undocumented firearm.
The operation led to the confiscation of around 75 mobile phones, 30 desktop computers, 50 laptops, assorted credit cards, two cars, one motorcycle, and various Chinese government documents. Police reported that the Chinese suspects were involved in love and cryptocurrency scams similar to those conducted in the Tarlac compound.
