ABANDONED Members of a government team, led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), find abandoned work stations during a raid on a suspected Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in a building on Ayala Avenue in Makati City in this file photo taken in March 2025. —PAOCC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda said he is not surprised by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group’s (PNP-ACG) report that most online scammers are Filipinos who “learned” from working at Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos).
On Wednesday, PNP-ACG Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said that most of the people they have arrested for online scams are Filipinos that may have worked in Pogos before.
With regard to this, Aguda said during a meet and greet with reporters on Thursday that he did not personally see the data from the PNP-ACG, but nonetheless, he would not be surprised by the report.
“Regarding their comment, I suppose they have a basis for it, but I personally have not seen the data — still, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Aguda said mostly in Filipino at the Talisay Garden Cafe in Quezon City.
READ: PNP-ACG: Most online scammers now are Filipinos who ‘learned’ from Pogos
“Because some of those who lost their jobs when Pogos shut down, right? They somewhat diverted to other ventures such as financial crimes, hacking, etc. So I wouldn’t be surprised by that statement from the PNP,” he added in a mix of Filipino and English.
Meanwhile, the DICT chief mentioned that he has previously spoken with the PNP technology team about their collaboration.
“We are collaborating closely with them on three things: one, on the digital infrastructure; second, on upskilling and training; and third, on any assistance we can give them on their ISSP or their Information Systems Strategic Plan,” Aguda said.
“On the cyber training, we are extending all the trainings, certification to as many as the 230,000 plus PNP officials,” he added. /jpv
