ALARMED over concerns of leakage regarding issuances of warrants for which a raid narrowly missed its target in Porac, Pampanga, the Supreme Court hinted at investigating what looks more like a collusion between illegal POGO operators and court personnel.
“The Supreme Court will investigate these allegations,” Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting assured in a short statement after Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian raised concerns on the possible connivance following an apparent leak of information regarding search warrants.
The raid of the POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga which is covered by a search warrant issued by the Malolos City Regional Trial Court, nearly failed as the POGO hub had already been vacated by its occupants before operatives arrived.
However, a checkpoint just outside the second gate of the 10-hectare complex flagged 12 commuter vans, which turned out to be loaded with POGO workers.
A total of 158 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, were arrested.
Gatchalian, who was at the Senate executive session, told reporters that going after the POGO operators entails so much more than police operations even as he claimed that even local crime syndicates are now part of what appears to be a mafia enjoying the protection not just from the government agencies under the executive department but also from some crooks in the judiciary.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) relieved Porac police chief Lt. Col. Palmyra Guardaya over the same suspicion following the raid conducted by joint elements from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), the PNP Special Action Force, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the Anti-Cybercrime Group at the Lucky 99 Outsourcing Inc.
According to PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio, there are about 100 more illegal POGO hubs on sight – and going after them could take eternity.
“To be honest with you, hindi namin alam kung hanggang kailan pa ito kayang i-sustain kung PAOCC lamang ang magsasagawa nito, kaya nga kami ay laging humihiling ng tulong,” Casio told reporters after raiding a 10-hectare POGO complex in Porac, Pampanga for alleged sexual and labor trafficking.
Citing records from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Casio said that 402 permits have already been canceled by the state gaming regulator. Of this number, around 100 are still in operation.
Casio admits PAOCC has so far raided only four of the remaining illegal POGO hubs in operation, adding that preparing a case build up just for one POGO has been taking them two months.
“At the rate we are going ay hindi ho yata natin kayang tapusin ang problemang ito hangga’t hindi magkakaroon ng polisiya na magkaroon ng mas malalim at mas malakas na polisiya laban po dito sa mga scam farms na mga ito,” Casio said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will also be verifying reports on the alleged negligence of the local government unit which allowed Lucky 99 to operate despite absence of government permits.
The POGO hub was reportedly involved in various criminal activities that include human trafficking, sex trafficking, torture, kidnapping, and scamming.
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 town’s POGO hub uncovered evidence of various illegal activities.
In a statement earlier today, Sen. Risa Hontiveros lauded PAOCC’s operation in the Porac POGO hub, even after the agency admitted they were not able to enter the facility after the judge recalled their search warrant.
“It is unfortunate, however, that there seemed to be a leak prior to the operation. May mga Chinese umano na pinatakas bago pa makarating ang PAOCC sa lugar. We will get to the bottom of who is accountable,” Hontiveros said.
“Sinumang nakikipagsabwatan sa mga sindikato ng Chinese ay mananagot,” she added. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
