World · Philippines Bureau
Defense Chief: Spying Possible at Illegal Gaming Hub Near Military Camps
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has not ruled out espionage activities at a suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator facility discovered near Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame. Teodoro said forensic analysis of materials recovered from the site would help determine the full scope of operations.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. widened the scope of investigation into a suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator hub discovered in proximity to two major military installations, suggesting counterintelligence concerns may underpin the probe.
During an online interview on Wednesday, Teodoro indicated that investigators are examining multiple potential uses of the facility beyond typical illegal gaming operations. "All possibilities are open," the defense chief said when asked whether the site may have been used for espionage activities.
The suspected Pogo hub's proximity to Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame—home to key military and police leadership—has raised questions about potential security vulnerabilities. Officials have recovered materials from the location that are now undergoing forensic examination to establish the nature and scope of the operation.
The investigation comes amid ongoing concerns about illegal Pogo operations in the Philippines, which authorities have linked to criminal networks and money laundering. The discovery near sensitive military facilities has added a national security dimension to what appeared initially to be a standard law enforcement matter.