Scam hubs operating anew in Phl

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has acknowledged a resurgence of scam hubs in the Philippines following recent law enforcement raids in Zamboanga Sibugay, Quezon City and Makati City, although their operations remain smaller than those of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) dismantled in 2024.

Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty said authorities have found fewer foreign nationals and a less diverse mix of nationalities in the recently raided facilities compared with previous operations.

While earlier scam hubs housed Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Myanmar, Nepalese and African nationals, those recently discovered have mostly involved Chinese nationals, Ty said.

As the official overseeing the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, Ty stressed the need for continued enforcement against scam operations linked to human trafficking.

Meanwhile, he welcomed the Philippines’ retention of Tier 1 status for the 11th consecutive year in the US State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report.

Ty said the ranking recognizes a country’s efforts to address human trafficking rather than requiring the complete elimination of the problem.

He explained that the assessment considers how governments respond to trafficking, including their enforcement and prevention efforts.

The DOJ is also continuing its review of the country’s visa-free entry arrangement for Chinese tourists, Ty said.

The department is gathering data on Chinese nationals who overstay their permitted visits and those found in scam hubs, comparing them with legitimate tourists to help determine whether policy changes are warranted.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro earlier referred the matter to the Department of Foreign Affairs for consideration.

Ty said the DOJ has yet to finalize its recommendation as it continues evaluating the available information.