FIFTEEN Chinese nationals and a Filipino were arrested late Monday in a suspected online gambling office in Pasig City.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) spokesperson Jay Guillermo said they raided the office of YD International Incorporated in Belvedere, Ortigas, Pasig City after a tipster reported that the company is involved in illegal online gambling.
He said the company has been operating in the country for at least two years.
“Itong company na ito is playing online games. So ibig sabihin they are operating as an illegal online gambling,” he said.
Guillermo said it took the PNP two months to investigate the illegal online gambling being conducted inside the said office owned by Jonah Tee and Mica Wang.
He said majority of the players in the website being operated from the office is from China.
“You will be required to open an account from the website. Automatic when you win and lose doon nila binabawas at dinadagdag ‘yung napalunan mo sa account nila and it is connected from your bank account in China,” Guillermo said.
“If sa tingin nila nanalo ka nang malaki, there is a big possibility they will shut down the website so you cannot claim your winnings anymore. It is considered a scam. Sometimes we receive complaints from other countries like China na they won but they never claimed the price. So when they check on the website and they checked on the hosting nakikita nila dito sa Pilipinas nag-ooperate ‘yung website na ‘yun,” he added.
Guillermo said the 15 Chinese nationals working on the company only has tourist visa. Once it lapses, they will return to their country and will apply for another tourist visa for them to be able to go back to the Philippines.
However, the Filipino, who is yet to be identified, said he is only working as a liaison officer of the company usually tasked to settle the company bills and he is not aware of its illegal activities.
Recovered from the office were computer sets, camera and scanner units, digital storage units, bank cards and assorted documents which will be subject for investigation.
The suspects will face charges for the violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. (SunStar Philippines)