A Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub operating behind the town hall of Bamban in Tarlac province has been shut down following a government raid in March due to human trafficking, online scams and other illegal activities. —RICHARD A. REYES/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Wednesday filed a complaint against eight Chinese citizens for holding captive fellow nationals at the Bamban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Bamban, Tarlac.
Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, PNP-CIDG chief, said the complaint was based on the testimonies of two Chinese citizens who were employed at the Bamban Pogo hub.
READ: 7 Bamban Pogo execs in trafficking raps surrender to NBI
“They were held against their will. They were made to work against their will. Gusto nila umuwi, gusto nila umayaw pero hindi sila pinayagan umalis,” Torre told reporters.
(They were held against their will. They were made to work against their will. They wanted to go home, they wanted to quit, but they were not allowed to leave.)
Torre said the eight respondents are holding positions in the Pogo hub.
“They are holding positions that actually require them to take control over these victims,” he said.
However, Torre did not give the eight respondents’ names but said they were already under police custody because they were already criminally charged.
“May mga initial cases na. Yung trafficking in persons that stemmed from the same operation,” he said.
(There are already initial cases filed against them, such as the trafficking in person case from the Pogo operations.)
Torres said more cases will soon be filed as their investigation continues.
Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo was not included in the complaint.
Guo is already facing several cases for human trafficking, and graft. She also faces complaints for money laundering, perjury and falsification of public documents pending before the DOJ.