Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is not ruling out the possibility that a suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator hub near Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame was used for spying.
Teodoro said investigators must examine materials seized during the operation to determine what activities took place at the site.
Authorities raided the site in Barangay Socorro, Quezon City, on Oct. 12 and arrested 76 people, most of them Chinese nationals.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the operation is being investigated for possible violations of immigration laws and the ban on POGO operations.
Evidence is being reviewed to determine whether violations occurred, including any possible threat to national security. No official has been identified as having allegedly protected the operation.
Teodoro warned that scam hubs may be splitting into smaller operations, underscoring the need for closer monitoring by government agencies.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila criticized Teodoro over the arrests of Chinese nationals and his remarks about Chinese teachers and the Chinese community in the Philippines.
Authorities have not released findings. Action against those arrested will depend on the evidence. Investigators have not confirmed that the site was used for spying.
