Second Army Area chief hosts Philippine armed forces chief on border visit to alleged scam hub near Chong Chom
Lt Gen Weerayuth Raksilp welcomed Gen Romeo S. Brawner Jr. at Chong Chom checkpoint in Surin for briefings on border security, cybercrime and operational coordination, including an overview of alleged scam operations and drone-launch activity linked to nearby casino-resort sites.
On February 10, 2026, at the Chong Chom permanent border checkpoint in Kap Choeng district, Surin, Lt Gen Weerayuth Raksilp, commander of Thailand’s Second Army Area, welcomed Gen Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (equivalent to the Philippines’ top military commander), and his delegation.
The visiting delegation received a security briefing on the border situation, including issues related to cybercrime and online scam operations. They also conducted terrain observations and reviewed operational approaches used by units on the ground, as part of information-sharing, exchanges of experience, and discussions on international security coordination.
During part of the briefing, the Thai side pointed to areas including O’Smach Resort and Royal Hill Resort in Oddar Meanchey province, located about 500 metres from the Chong Chom checkpoint. Thai officials said Cambodian soldiers had allegedly used buildings in the area as a command point for launching more than 100 “kamikaze drones” in the latest clashes, which left several Thai soldiers injured.
The Thai side also said it found that a six-storey building had been used as an operational base for scam networks targeting victims worldwide. Rooms inside were reportedly decorated to resemble police stations from various countries, including China, Singapore, Australia, Brazil and Vietnam.
Officials also reported seeing a board with Indonesian-language text, which they said suggested that some Indonesians may have been among the victims of these scam networks. In addition, they said there were areas set up to imitate a bank, describing this as part of scammer tactics.
Thai officials said the visit was an important opportunity to strengthen ties, deepen mutual understanding, and develop military cooperation between Thailand and the Philippines—aimed at enhancing capabilities against emerging threats and supporting sustainable regional security and stability.
