Philippine authorities arrested 244 foreign workers in simultaneous operations across two municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay on October 2, 2026, according to the Bureau of Immigration. The raids targeted Barangays Kimos in Siay town and Tandiong Muslim in Alicia town, recovering thousands of mobile phones, computers, and laptops allegedly tied to organized online scam networks.
Simultaneous Raids in Zamboanga Sibugay Target Foreign Workers
The joint operation brought together the National Bureau of Immigration, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division. Authorities apprehended 113 foreigners in Siay—comprising 110 Chinese citizens, two Cambodians, and one Hong Kong resident—while a further 131 individuals were caught at the Alicia site. The second group was mostly Chinese, alongside citizens of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
Security forces seized vast quantities of electronic hardware during the pre-dawn raids. Operatives confiscated dozens of laptops, desktop computers, and over 200 mobile phones at the hideouts. Among the significant items recovered from the areas covered by the operation were an estimated 2,000 mobile phones, along with numerous computers and laptops and other electronic equipment and materials.
The action stemmed from sustained intelligence gathering and reports from local executives and residents. Vigilant local officials and confidential informants had flagged the presence of foreigners and their Filipino cohorts operating clandestine online gambling hubs using sophisticated electronic facilities.
The Legal Battle Against POGOs and Transnational Fraud
The Philippine government banned Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, in 2024. The ban was enacted because criminal syndicates used the gaming firms as a cover for human trafficking, money laundering, online fraud, kidnappings, and murder. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pushed for the ban during his third State of the Nation Address in 2024, and subsequently signed Republic Act No. 12312, known as the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, in October 2025.
Despite the statutory ban, illegal operations have persisted. Major General Yegor Rey P. Barroquillo Jr., Commander of Joint Task Force ZAMPELAN and the 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division, emphasized the necessity of inter-agency enforcement. As noted, Barroquillo stated:
Our communities must never become safe havens for human trafficking, exploitation, or transnational criminal activities.Daily Tribune
The operation was carried out pursuant to Republic Act No. 11862, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022, and Commonwealth Act No. 613, the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.
Government Investigates Detainees for Human Trafficking and Deportation
The individuals taken into custody face immediate immigration scrutiny and potential expulsion. Immigration Bureau Chief Joel Viado stated that the government is investigating several of the detainees for potential human trafficking-related offenses, while the rest face deportation. Those issued deportation orders will be placed on the Bureau of Immigration blacklist and barred from re-entering the country.
We will continue to enforce our immigration laws against foreign nationals who violate the conditions of their stay and ensure that the Philippines is not used as a base for illegal activities,
immigration chief Joel Viado said in a statement.
The crackdown aligns with broader regional concerns. A 2023 United Nations report estimated that hundreds of thousands of individuals have been coerced by gangs into scam centers across Southeast Asia, including approximately 120,000 trapped in Myanmar and 100,000 in Cambodia, alongside operations in Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand.
In response to the Zamboanga Sibugay raids, Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng told Agence France-Presse that they are reaching out to the Philippine law enforcement agencies on the details of this case,
adding that Chinese law prohibits any form of gambling, including Chinese nationals gambling overseas or working for gambling companies.
Worth a look
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.