PAMPANGA, Philippines – Philippine authorities have arrested two Chinese during a raid against an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) at the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales this week, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said.
The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG), in coordination with the SBMA law enforcement, implemented a search warrant on September 4 against the POGO due to reports of alleged violations such as human trafficking and cybercrime activities. The warrant was issued by Presiding Judge Melani Fay Tadili of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 97.
The POGO was not named in the search warrant, but compared to other establishments previously raided by authorities, the Subic POGO was much smaller. A source told Rappler that the POGO was allegedly unregistered and operating illegally inside a house.
The arrested Chinese were identified as Bao Go and A Hai. Meanwhile, authorities rescued 18 other Chinese said to be victims of the scheme.
PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo told Rappler on Saturday, September 7, that the 18 rescued Chinese will be turned over to the Bureau of Immigration on Monday, September 9, while the two arrested will remain under the CIDG’s custody.
Fajardo explained that the two suspects were indicted for three counts of trafficking after the prosecutor found evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to indict them.
Various gaming equipment were also seized from the POGO, including 18 desktop computers, laptops, SIM cards, as well as financial and travel documents, according to the police report.
“The SBMA ensures the public that we are one with you in upholding justice and that offenders will never escape the long arm of the law,” SBMA Chairman Eduardo Alino said.
Only two months ago, in July, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business John Aquino had said that no POGOs existed in Subic, Zambales. – Rappler.com