The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is questioning local government officials in Zamboanga Sibugay to determine whether they knew about or ignored the operations of a large-scale cybercrime hub uncovered in the province.
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said Thursday, November 5, that officials from municipalities including Alicia and Siay have been summoned for questioning, stressing that the scale of the operation makes it difficult to believe that local authorities were unaware of its existence.
In an exclusive interview on DZRH's Dos Por Dos, Matibag said investigators want to establish how the illegal operation was able to run without being detected by local authorities.
"We have to ask questions din po sa mga LGUs dito at saka yung mga official po kung paano po nagkaroon ng ganoon. Hindi maaring hindi nila—kung sasabihin hindi nalaman—maaring hindi po yata natin kaagad pwedeng paniwalaan na hindi alam, kasi malaki po yung operations," he said.
The NBI chief said the raided facility was allegedly being used for multiple illegal activities, including online financial scams, an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO)-style operation, and troll farm activities.
Authorities seized hundreds of electronic devices during the operation, which are now undergoing digital forensic examination to determine the extent of the activities and identify other individuals who may be involved.
Matibag said the results of the examination would help investigators establish what additional charges may be filed and identify other people who could be held accountable.
The NBI is also determining the extent of criminal involvement among the 291 foreign nationals taken into custody, with Matibag emphasizing the need to distinguish trafficking victims from individuals who knowingly participated in the illegal operations.
He said the confiscation of workers' passports by their employers is a significant indication of possible human trafficking, as it may prevent foreign nationals from freely leaving the premises.
Matibag clarified that not all 291 individuals would necessarily face criminal charges, as cases would depend on the evidence gathered and the applicable legal standards.
He said only those found to have sufficient evidence of criminal involvement would be considered for prosecution, while those identified as trafficking victims would be treated accordingly.
Matibag also warned that cybercrime syndicates often move their operations between countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia and Myanmar, when authorities intensify enforcement efforts.
He raised concerns that the large amounts of money generated by these illegal activities could also be diverted to finance terrorism, underscoring the need for international cooperation.
The NBI, he said, is strengthening intelligence-sharing efforts with foreign law enforcement agencies, including the United States' Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and regional counterparts in Bangkok.
