Philippine authorities arrested 244 foreigners on 2 October in the largest anti-POGO raid of 2026. The Bureau of Immigration, working with the National Bureau of Investigation and the military, detained 113 people in Siay municipality and 131 in Alicia, both in South Mindanao province. Most of those arrested are Chinese nationals.
The raid at Casa de Coco resort seized around 3,000 mobile phones, 78 monitors, laptops and SIM cards. Investigators believe some of the equipment was used for online fraud. 'The Bureau of Immigration is consistently implementing the government's policy against illegal POGOs,' said Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
Those detained face immigration violations including working without work permits, lack of documentation and illegal entry. The operation enforced a 2024 executive order banning POGOs and the Anti-POGO Act passed in 2025. All arrestees face deportation and blacklisting. Authorities are also investigating the sites for possible human trafficking links.
