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MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese national who was one of the “big bosses” of a recently raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) complex in Porac, Pampanga was arrested at a leisure park and casino in nearby Mabalacat town.
Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Leo Francisco made the revelation in a press conference on Friday.
Francisco said the search warrant for the suspect who was staying in the casino resort was “borne out” of the investigation on the recent raid in Porac town where 186 were rescued over reports it was being used for human trafficking, with some of the foreign employees allegedly tortured or sold for sex.
READ: Pampanga Pogo linked to scams, trafficking; 186 rescued in raid
“Last night we were able to apprehend one Chinese national and he is now being investigated by the PAOCC and the CIDG,” Francisco said.
Pressed if the yet-unidentified suspect was a “big boss”, he said: “Yes, that’s why we applied for the search warrant because he is one of our subjects.”
Francisco also said the casino resort was being used for Pogo’s “small-scale operations.”
“From our information and the revelations from those who were rescued from two big scamming hubs, they are also being used as a place to have this kind of activity. So, it’s as if they had a small scale operation, to avoid authorities they are doing this small scale operation,” Francisco said.
The official also said 14 safety vaults were seized after this operation on the five villas inside the casino resort.With reports from Felice Marie Nafarrete, trainee