The Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team confiscated a text blaster device and arrested a 49-year-old man in an entrapment operation in Paco, Manila, on Thursday, March 27, 2025. (Photo from the ACG)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Some former workers of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) retrieved devices from their facilities during the government鈥檚 crackdown on scam hubs.
This was the warning of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) at a press briefing in Camp Crame on Tuesday, after announcing the arrest of a man in Manila for selling a text blaster linked to a Pogo.
鈥淲e found out that when the Pogos were shut down, those working there retrieved devices or equipment from the facilities,鈥� ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Arancillo said in Filipino.
As for how many devices could be traced back to Pogos, the PNP ACG did not have the data.
鈥淭he PNP ACG is continuously monitoring, especially online platforms, to see where these devices have ended up so that we can catch them before they鈥檙e used for criminal activities,鈥� Arancillo said in Filipino.
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The PNP鈥檚 anti-cybercrime unit also announced the arrest of a man in Manila for selling a text blaster he acquired from a former Pogo security guard.
The PNP ACG reported that they arrested the suspect in an entrapment operation in Paco, Manila, on March 27.
Arancillo said their operatives spotted the suspect selling the text blaster for P10,000 on social media and online selling platforms. The arrested individual was caught with one device with eight subscriber identity module (SIM) ports, each capable of sending thousands of messages at a time.
鈥淎ccording to the investigation, the suspect got this text blast machine from a former security guard of a Pogo. He bought it for P5,000鈥� Since he did not know how to use it, he set it aside,鈥� she said in Filipino.
鈥淣ow that he needed money for his birthday, he thought of selling it,鈥� she added.
The PNP ACG did not provide details on which Pogo the device originated from.
The suspect was identified as 鈥淧opoy,鈥� an unemployed 49-year-old resident of Paco, Manila.
He is currently detained at the PNP ACG鈥檚 custodial facility in Camp Crame.
He is facing complaints for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Radio Control Act.