PH
File photo shows a typical office of a licensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator or POGO.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — At least 186 people, 157 of them foreigners, were rounded up in a raid on a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Angeles City, Pampanga on Tuesday night.
At least 126 of the foreigners are Chinese while the rest are from Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar and South Korea. Twenty-nine Filipinos are among those taken into custody.
It is unclear who among the foreigners and Filipinos are suspects and victims.
Members of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), police and Department of Justice conducted the raid, which targeted the Lucky South 99 firm along Fil-Am Friendship Highway.
The raid was based on a search warrant issued by a court in Malolos, Bulacan.
The operation was based on complaints of human trafficking and other criminal activities at the POGO firm.
The PAOCC said it received reports that a woman was sexually abused while male foreigners were victims of torture.
PAOCC spokesman Winston John Casio said the POGO firm has at least 1,000 workers, but a majority of them managed to escape before members of the raiding team arrived.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the government would look into the details of the raid.
”It is important to check how many were arrested, what was found,” Abalos said. ”We will investigate this thoroughly.”
On Monday, three Chinese were arrested in an anti-narcotics operation at a subdivision in Barangay Pampanga, also in Angeles City.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the suspects – Li Guo, 37; Wan Li, 41, and Liao Hong Tao, 31 – are believed to be involved in the distribution of îllégâl drugs to POGO workers.
The three Chinese were arrested for alleged possession of shabu valued at P3.4 million