Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) is intensifying its crackdown on the 'guerrilla-style' sale of illegal text blasters, particularly devices allegedly sourced from defunct Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs). PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stated that the specialized equipment, once used in large-scale scam hubs, is now being sold individually through social media and e-commerce platforms.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gen. Nartatez noted a shift in the distribution of these devices following the 2024 POGO ban, highlighting the movement toward guerrilla-style sales. The equipment is reportedly being extracted from closed firms and sold to smaller criminal entities. In response, police units have been directed to enhance intelligence monitoring and strategic operations against those involved.
Recent operations by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) led to the arrest of three suspects in separate entrapment operations in Para±aque City and Cavite. These individuals were allegedly selling GSM-based text blasters online. In Para±aque, two suspects were caught selling three 32-port units at PHP40,000 each, while in Cavite, another suspect was apprehended for selling two 32-slot 4G text-blast devices priced at PHP20,000 each.
Authorities revealed that some suspects were former POGO workers who retained the equipment after the closure of the gaming firms. These devices pose a significant threat as they can bypass traditional network security, acting as portable cell sites to deliver unsolicited and potentially malicious messages to nearby phones. The equipment is a major tool in large-scale smishing and phishing operations.
Gen. Nartatez has instructed the PNP-ACG to enhance their cyber patrols and surveillance of online marketplaces to curb the spread of these illegal devices. The PNP is collaborating with the National Telecommunications Commission to enforce a zero-tolerance policy on e-commerce sites, with the PNP-ACG conducting round-the-clock cyber patrolling to identify and remove these listings.
