DIGITAL FORENSIC EXAM. Personnel from the Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group-7, Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Unit-7, and the Moalboal Police Station check on various gadgets seized from the Happy Bear Resort in Barangay Saavedra, Moalboal used as Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) hub by Chinese nationals, on Tuesday (Oct. 15, 2024). A digital forensic examination is being conducted on the equipment to determine the foreigners' nature of operations. (Contributed photo)
CEBU CITY – Authorities started Tuesday a digital forensic examination for the content of the computers and gadgets confiscated from a Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) hub inside a resort in Moalboal, south of Cebu province.
Maj. Brigido Paca II, chief of the Moalboal police station, said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 (Central Visayas), Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Unit (RACCU) 7, and the town police served Monday night a cyber warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 29 of Toledo City and searched a resort used as POGO hub in Sitio Kalingking, Barangay Saavedra in the diving capital town.
“We held a briefing at 9 o’clock on Tuesday (evening) before we implemented the search warrant along with the CIDG, RACCU-7, and the Moalboal police,” Paca said.
He said a total of 34 computer sets, four laptops, and 226 cellular phones were seized at the POGO hub operating inside the Happy Bear Resort to determine the nature of operations of the foreigners.
“Initially, RACCU-7 are inspecting the gadgets offsite because these were off when confiscated,” Paca said in Cebuano.
Local authorities are still waiting for feedback from the Bureau of Immigration to determine the status of the stay of the 38 Chinese nationals when they were arrested during the Oct. 11 raid at the resort.
The foreigners were placed under inquest proceedings and are awaiting the correct charges to be filed against them. (PNA)
