MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced Wednesday that it has dismantled the technical operations of a suspected scam hub inside an exclusive village in Muntinlupa City, following an earlier illegal detention case linked to the site.
Authorities implemented a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) on Feb. 13, leading to the seizure of multiple laptops, smartphones, and other electronic devices allegedly used by the syndicate for online scams and digital communications.
The confiscated equipment has been turned over to the NBI Digital Forensic Laboratory for comprehensive off-site analysis aimed at determining the full scope of the group’s activities and identifying other members of the network.
The search was prompted by a Feb. 5 operation at the same villa, where two Chinese nationals were arrested for allegedly forcing another Chinese victim to work as an encoder while restricting his liberty.
NBI Acting Director Angelito Magno described the WSSECD operation as “a critical step in our fight against cyber-enabled crimes.”
“By securing this digital evidence, our forensic experts can now trace the network behind these operations,” Magno said. “We remain committed to ensuring that those who exploit individuals and technology for criminal gain are held accountable.”