DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Fifty-nine workers at an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) were arrested in an early morning raid yesterday by National Bureau of Investigation XI operatives in Barangay Manay, Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

Of the 59 arrested, 55 were reportedly Chinese, three Malaysians and one Filipino.

NBI regional director Archie Albao said they were acting on information that a Malaysian national, identified as Ruby Lim, was kidnapped by unidentified Chinese nationals and was being held in a warehouse in the city.

Albao said the alleged kidnap victim was able to share their exact location to an informant, causing the NBI to do an immediate surveillance operation.?However, agents discovered that the warehouse compound where the victim was allegedly being held was operating as an illegal POGO hub.

The NBI operatives found two rooms with 60 sets of computers, passports, IDs, cell phones, firearms, handcuffs and baseball bats.

Operatives were unable to locate Lim. Several suspects, including the one authorities believe is the POGO hub’s manager, fled the scene during the raid.

The facility had reportedly been in operation for three months, and initial reports indicate the Chinese nationals were brought to Davao del Norte after their POGO hub in Metro Manila closed.

The NBI is verifying the records of the detained foreign nationals to determine if any have pending cases or are wanted for crimes in their respective home countries. All of the employees are claiming to have been forced into working at the POGO hub against their will.

Authorities are currently conducting a pursuit operation to apprehend those who fled.

– With Mark Ernest Villezapgbet, Diana Lhyd Suelto, Emmanuel Tupas

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