The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested seven suspects in Batasan, Quezon City, for alleged involvement in illegal online gambling.
Authorities confiscated mobile devices and other equipment said to have been used in the operations. The case stemmed from a formal complaint filed by the PCSO.
The suspects face charges for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act 10175), Presidential Decree 1602 on illegal gambling, and related laws.
“We hope to bring more cases like this within the year, especially interagency cases such as this, which show how much stronger we are when we work together,” said Henry Aguda, secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
“These illegal operators may seem small at first glance, but over time their impact is significant,” said Renato Paraiso, acting executive director of the CICC. “That is why we are relentless in pursuing them.”
The PCSO said illegal gambling not only deprives the government of revenues meant for health and charity programs but also puts Filipinos at risk of financial exploitation and fraud.
The seized devices will undergo forensic analysis by the CICC to help identify the wider network behind the operation.