Four foreigners were recently arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga for their alleged involvement in telecommunications fraud and online gaming scams, authorities said.
In separate statements, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said the operation was carried out in the evening of February 18 in Barangay Pampang.
Authorities received information that the suspects were allegedly involved in telco fraud, online gaming fraud, and other illegal activities.
Two female foreigners attempted to board a sedan to escape, but law enforcers intercepted the vehicle and prevented it from driving off.
Upon verification, the vehicle had four occupants – two Japanese females aged 27 and 31, a Japanese male aged 41, and a Chinese national aged 32.
The BI said the suspects failed to present their passports and other valid identification documents.
All four foreigners were undocumented aliens, the BI said. Their other violations include overstaying, harboring illegal aliens, and undesirability.
The Chinese national was the alleged logistics head of the scam hub and was supposedly responsible for training personnel and managing operational requirements.
The foreigners denied involvement in kidnapping and extortion activities but allegedly admitted to participating in scams and online gaming fraud operations.
They were eventually transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said they will “not allow the Philippines to be used as a breeding ground for scam hubs, kidnapping schemes, and transnational fraud operations.”
“Foreign syndicates who think they can hide behind tourist visas or expired documents should think again. We are working closely with foreign governments and local law enforcement, and we will hunt you down,” he added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News