Philippine authorities carry out what they describe as the largest POGO crackdown of 2026, arresting hundreds of foreign workers in simultaneous operations in Zamboanga Sibugay. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) says 244 people are apprehended, with most described as “mostly Chinese,” during raids at two sites.
According to multiple outlets, the operations involve the seizure of digital devices. Authorities report confiscating around 3,000 mobile phones during the raids. The BI and the reporting outlets characterize the arrests as part of efforts against illegal online gaming operations.
While the coverage is largely aligned on the number of people detained, the main focus differs slightly by outlet. Some emphasize the “largest” nature of the crackdown and the scale of the arrests, while others underline the characterization of the workers as “mostly Chinese” and the discovery of large quantities of phones. All accounts tie the actions to BI-led enforcement in Zamboanga Sibugay this year.
