Philippine law targeting foreign agents spurs fears of free speech curbs

On Monday, immigration and military operatives arrested 76 foreigners at a facility in Quezon City suspected of being linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), whose online gambling businesses flourished when former president Rodrigo Duterte was in power. Authorities have long suspected that Pogos were covertly used for illicit activities, including espionage.

The group comprised 74 Chinese nationals and two from Myanmar. The facility in Barangay Socorro was located down the street from Camp Aguinaldo, the sprawling complex housing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ headquarters and the Department of National Defence.

On the suspected activities at the facility, retired rear-admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, a military spokesman for West Philippine Sea-related matters, told reporters: “The appropriate government agencies must look into this. This will have very serious national security implications.”