By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched an intensified operation to track down the financiers and key figures behind an alleged scam hub uncovered in Muntinlupa City, as authorities move to dismantle what they believe is part of a wider underground criminal network.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered investigators to pursue those funding and directing the operation, emphasizing that the campaign will not stop with the arrest of individuals caught during the initial raid.
“The PNP remains relentless in its fight against illegal activities that exploit technology and victimize the public. We will continue our operations until those responsible are brought to justice,” Nartatez said.
The investigation gained momentum after police arrested a suspected manager linked to a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) during a June 15 operation in Muntinlupa. Information obtained from the suspect led authorities to a facility believed to be functioning as a scam center.
Police said the hub was allegedly operating multiple online platforms and may be connected to a larger network that continued to operate despite the government’s prohibition on POGOs.
According to Nartatez, illegal operators have adapted to the crackdown by shifting to smaller and more concealed setups.
“These groups have fragmented into mobile and covert operations, making them more difficult to detect, but our intelligence units are actively pursuing them,” he said.
During the raid, authorities confiscated computers, laptops, mobile phones, storage devices and other digital equipment. Investigators are conducting forensic examinations on the seized items to determine the scale of the operation and identify possible accomplices and financial supporters.
The probe is also focused on uncovering the group’s leadership structure, tracing money flows and identifying links to other criminal enterprises.
The PNP is coordinating with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), local government units and other government agencies to locate similar operations and determine whether they are connected to the Muntinlupa-based network.
Nartatez called on the public to continue providing information that could help authorities identify and dismantle clandestine scam syndicates operating across the country.
He said intelligence reports from communities remain a crucial component of the government’s campaign against cyber-enabled crimes and illegal online operations.
The latest operation underscores the PNP’s continuing efforts to eliminate scam hubs that have persisted in various forms despite intensified enforcement and the nationwide ban on offshore gaming operations.
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