đˇ Tempo
SOON enough, the Philippine National Police (PNP) just would have to pick junior police officers to call shots for the local police stations following the relief order issued against Porac, Pampangaâs top cop who was caught unaware that a scam farm had been operating right under her nose.
According to Col. Jean Fajardo in her capacity as PNP spokesperson, Porac municipal police station chief Lt. Col. Palmyra Guardaya was relieved from his post amid the investigation over an alleged âscam farmâ inside a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub that was raided last Tuesday.
According to Fajardo, a team has already been formed to dig deeper as to why the Porac police force failed to detect the illegal operation of the POGO hub amid complaints and reports of alleged human trafficking happening inside the 10-hectare compound in Sitio Pulung Maba, Barangay Santa Cruz.
Part of the probe will also be looking into possible accountability and negligence of the local government which allowed the operation of Luck South 99 Outsourcing Incorporated, despite absence of government permits.
Armed with a search warrant issued by the Malolos Regional Trial Court for culpable violations the Anti-Trafficking Act specifically for sexual and labor trafficking, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), along with the Department of Justice Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, PNP Special Action Force, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Anti-Cybercrime Group, and the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group raided the POGO hub.
The POGO hub was reportedly involved in various criminal activities that include human trafficking, sex trafficking, torture, kidnapping, and scamming.
A total of 158 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, were ârescuedâ during the operation.
Interestingly, another probe team is looking into the possibility that the POGO hub received a tip which warned them of the impending raid, even as authorities claimed that several more people inside the hub managed to escape after they supposedly received early warning.
According to reports, 157 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, were caught leaving the POGO hub premises just as police were supposed to conduct a âwelfare checkâ in the area.
The arrested POGO workers were aboard at least 12 vehicles going out of the premises via its Angeles City gate along Fil-Am Friendship Highway.
Records showed that Lucky South 99 was already raided in 2022 for alleged kidnapping of at least 43 Chinese nationals.
Previously, the entire police force in Bamban, Tarlac were removed from their posts after a raid in the townâs POGO hub uncovered evidence of various illegal activities for which Bamban Mayor Guo was suspended. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
