The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati issued a decision on April 24, 2025, to forfeit an estimated P189 million in cash from various currencies, including US Dollars, Vietnamese Dong, Chinese Yuan, and others. The money was seized during a raid on a scam hub in Mabalacat, Pampanga in 2023.
On May 4, 2023, authorities raided a company called “Colorful and Leap Group Co.” at Clark Sun Valley Hub in Pampanga. The raid was part of an operation against human trafficking and cyber-fraud such as fraudulent cryptocurrency investments and love scams. The company claimed that its operations were only offshore gambling.
The operation was led by multi-agency law enforcement teams such as PNP-ACG, Department of Justice, and Department of Social Welfare and Development. More than 1,100 foreign nationals and 129 Filipinos were rescued from online scams. P189.6 million was recovered from vaults containing various foreign currencies.
The scam hub operators, mostly Chinese nationals, were charged under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and Cybercrime Prevention Act.
