ILIGAN City — Authorities arrested 13 people and seized computer equipment and gaming paraphernalia estimated at ₱12 million during an anti-POGO operation at a business establishment in Barangay Hinaplanon on Wednesday night, Oct. 28.
The operation targeted ARMSOFT Information Technology Solutions on the second floor of the Ali Property Building in Purok 2B, following the issuance of a search warrant for an alleged violation of Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, according to a police report.
The warrant to search, seize and examine computer data, numbered 26-04, was issued on Oct. 28 by Judge Ali Ombra Bacaraman of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 4, in Iligan City.
The joint operation involved the Iligan City Mobile Force Company, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, regional police intelligence units, Iligan City Police Station 1, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Iligan, 1005th Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 10, National Bureau of Investigation–Iligan and the city police intelligence unit.
The search began at 8 p.m. on Oct. 28. Authorities started examining the premises at 8:35 p.m. and recorded the arrests at 10:40 p.m. The operation ended at 1:47 a.m. on Oct. 29.
The arrested group consisted of two men and 11 women, all adults. Police said they came from San Mateo, Rizal; Cagayan de Oro City; Misamis Oriental; Lanao del Norte; and Iligan City.
Items recovered from four rooms included computer processing units, monitors, keyboards, computer mice, modems, mobile phones, cameras, recording devices, tablets, gaming tables, card scanners, playing cards, colored dice and lighting equipment.
Authorities placed the total estimated value of the seized items at ₱12 million.
The 13 individuals were brought to Police Station 1 of the Iligan City Police Office for documentation. Authorities had not provided further details about their alleged roles or the specific activities conducted at the establishment as of the report’s preparation.
The arrests do not establish guilt. The allegations remain subject to investigation and court proceed
