Illegal online gambling busted in Pasay City; 36 foreign nationals nabbed
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MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested 36 undocumented foreign nationals involved in an illegal online casino in Pasay City.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said those arrested were 31 males and five females, 32 of whom are Koreans, two are Chinese, and two are Indonesians.
Morente said the investigation was conducted in Double Dragon Tower 3, Pasay City on Monday after the BI’s intelligence division received reports of illegal aliens working without appropriate permits in the area.
“We coordinated with PAGCOR and verified that this company is unlicensed and has no authority to operate,” said Morente in a statement on Tuesday.
Morente said that they discovered the company has not applied for any license with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which, according to BI, is a requirement for online gaming companies to operate in the country.
BI Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said that the company engaged in illegal live studio gambling, where the operators and management are composed mostly of Koreans.
“Apart from the live studio, they were also conducting illegal and clandestine online gaming operations,” said Manahan.
The 36 foreigners were taken in custody for having been found to be engaged in work without proper visas and documentation.
“We initially rounded up 40 individuals, but found 4 of them to be sufficiently documented, being permanent residents in the country,” said Manahan.
“However, the other 36 were unable to present their passports and visas, and were caught in the act of working illegally,” he added.
Subjects will be detained at the BI’s Warden Facility in Bicutan, Taguig upon release of their negative RT-PCR testing results.
Morente then warned illegal aliens not to take advantage of the pandemic to commit illegal activities.
“We call on all foreigners to legalize your stay,” said Morente.
“Do not take advantage of the pandemic, because despite the challenges, our work never stops, and we will continue to arrest, deport, and blacklist any alien who dares disobey our laws,” he added.
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