DOJ warns foreigners of ‘severe’ legal consequences over illegal POGOs

Amid the illegal activities involving Philippine Offshore Gaming  Operators (POGOs), Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Sunday urged foreigners in the country to follow Philippine laws or else they would face severe legal repercussions.

Remulla issued the warning following the raid on the POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga where authorities discovered evidence of torture and kidnapping.

The Justice Secretary tasked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to be on top of the case, file charges if warranted, and immediately deport those proven to have violated immigration laws.

"Foreigners are welcome to stay here in our country and may treat it as their own home as long as they whole-heartedly follow our laws accordingly and unconditionally. This is the only and last warning to every alien staying in the Philippines,  lest they face severe legal consequences," Remulla said.

“The Department of Justice would take action against those behind these illicit activities,” he added.

He also called on witnesses to come forward and testify “so that efforts would not go to waste.”

The raid last Wednesday led to the arrest of 158 Chinese, Vietnamese, and  Malaysian nationals. The POGO hub was reportedly being run by Lucky  South 99 Outsourcing.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime  Commission (PAOCC) said they expected to arrest more than 1,000 people,  but the information on the operation may have been leaked.

Authorities previously saw evidence of torture after they rescued injured foreigners inside the compound. Among them was a Chinese man handcuffed to a bed frame who had multiple bruises and wounds throughout his body.

PAOCC also reported a woman who was tortured and sold through online bidding for sexual services inside the compound.

In a Kapihan forum, PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said that it might take authorities a week to completely search the POGO hub in Porac as it was a 10-hectare compound with 46 buildings. As of Saturday night, he said they were only able to search a total of five buildings.

“Kagabi, may natagpuan kaming nakakalungkot sapagkat may natagpuan kaming  tatlong rooms na maraming dugo. Sinecure na namin ‘yung tatlong rooms na ‘yun. Papupuntahin namin ang SOCO sapagkat sa aming paniniwala, scene  of the crime ‘yung tatlong rooms na ‘yun na maraming talsik ng dugo,” he added.

(Last night, we found three rooms with a lot of blood. We secured those three rooms. We will send SOCO  personnel because we believe that those three rooms with lots of blood  spatter are crime scenes.)

Casio said they were able to rescue four victims from the POGO compound. Two of those rescued had serious injuries.

He said suspected illegal drugs and equipment used for torture were also found.

“Ganon kalala itong mga iligal na mga POGO na ‘to. Talagang ito’y mga talamak  na mga kriminal, so dapat hindi ito natin tantanan,” he added.

(That's how bad these illegal POGOs are. These are really serious criminals, so we shouldn't ignore this.)

All in all, Casio said 402 POGOs in the Philippines had their licenses canceled. Of these, around 100 were still operational.

“We have only managed to close four out of 402 in one year.  You do the math kung gaano katagal pa ito [on how long this will take],” he continued.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality Committee,  earlier urged the National Security Council (NSC) to recommend that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. declare POGOs a national security threat. — DVM, GMA Integrated News