The Philippine National Police (PNP) affirmed that the operation conducted at Century Peak Tower in Manila was legitimate, leading to the arrest of 69 foreign individuals suspected of involvement in cryptocurrency scams.
“Definitely ‘yung kanilang business po ay hindi po dapat sila nag-eengage sa cryptocurrency at ‘yun po ‘yung lumalabas doon po sa investigation," PNP Spokesperson PBGen. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing on Monday.
"In fact, kaya po ongoing pa po ‘yung processing, they’re trying to secure po. Dahil ‘yung cyber warrant po nila is to search, seize, and examine po itong mga laman po ng mga computers po nila," he added.
According to Fajardo, the target company operated without the necessary permits after rebranding itself.
She further stated that the PNP was joined in the raid by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Securities and Exchange Commission due to alleged violations of warrants under the Securities Regulation Code.
Fajardo issued the statement after the company’s management wrote to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, eyeing to file a complaint against the PNP.
The PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group continues to treat the 23rd floor of the building as a crime scene while conducting a digital forensic examination of the hundreds of gadgets discovered at the site.
