The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Friday said the raided facility in the Bataan freeport zone might be involved in “black market banking.”
In a radio interview, PAOCC Director Winston Casio made the comments while discussing the CentroPark site in Bagac, operated by Central One Bataan PH Incorporated, which raised alarms about potential engagement in illicit financial activities.
“We may be witnessing indications of underground banking practices here, which is not typical for a legitimate business,” Casio remarked on Radyo 630, referring to the discovery of numerous mobile phones allegedly used for processing payments.
Moreover, he said that authorities conducting the raid were able to apprehend three Chinese nationals, who allegedly served as the owners of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the facility.
The PAOCC official added that five other foreigners remained at large and authorities were already on the lookout.
“We have requested to the Bureau of Immigration, where we sent a letter asking for an alert status for the foreign nationals who were not apprehended,” Casio said in Filipino.
The raid, conducted on Thursday with support from various law enforcement agencies, was executed under the authority of a search warrant issued by a Bulacan court.
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