Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.
— French philosopher and mathematician Rene Descartes
They are now called scam hubs, but the truth is, they are just the same as POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) that were ordered banned by no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Following the directive, all of the government’s law enforcement agencies moved swiftly to raid and close all POGO operations. On record, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has claimed that they no longer exist in the country.
Yet, it appears to be otherwise, as recent raids by authorities have shown that there are still identical operations in some provinces (and perhaps even in Metro Manila), fronted by legal businesses such as business process outsourcing firms (BPOs) and other establishments engaged in digital transactions and employing many workers.
Just days ago, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) rounded up more than 200 Vietnamese nationals and launched a manhunt for a foreign operator during a raid on a suspected transnational scam hub at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The NBI operatives executed a search warrant issued by Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 73, presided over by Judge Edwin Torres, at the UPower Building 2 in Subic Gateway Park. The joint operation involved the NBI Pampanga and Olongapo district offices, the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
NBI Director Melvin Matibag announced that roughly 230 individuals—predominantly Vietnamese nationals, along with a Filipina human resource manager—were apprehended and are now in detention following a monthlong intelligence and surveillance investigation.
“We are working overtime in our fight against scam hubs and transnational online fraud,” Matibag declared, adding that investigators are screening the workers to separate human trafficking victims from suspected operators.
The question now is: how did these foreign workers enter the country? Is it again because our territorial boundaries are porous and easily “invaded,” allowing them to do so?
And why is it that numerous branches of government are needed to conduct raids and police operations?
Perhaps we lack the manpower and resources—that’s why. But just a reminder: “Too many cooks spoil the broth”—if you know what I mean.
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ia/xf
