PAOCC, police to wrap up search of Porac POGO hub

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and police forces are set to wrap up the search operation in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga on Saturday, PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said.

"Actually, magwra-wrap up na kami ng aming search na ginagawa kasama ang mga kapulisan," Cruz said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(Actually, we will wrap up our search operation conducted with the police.)

"Siguro mamaya gagawa na lang kami ng inventory and then probably later we can present that sa mga kaibigan po natin sa media," he said.

(Maybe later we will do an inventory and then probably later we can present that to our friends in the media.)

Cruz said that aside from items used for torture, authorities also discovered in the premises some devices used for cloning SIM cards and for sending out text blasts.

"'Yung nakita kong medyo nakakatakot at ginagamit ng sindikatong ito 'yung pang-cloning device ng SIM card at pag-text blast nila," Cruz said.

(What I saw that was a bit disturbing and being used by the syndicate are the devices for cloning SIM cards and sending text blasts.)

"'Di ba nakakatanggap tayo 'yung halimbawa sa loans. Sa loan scam kasi halimbawa sasabihin, 'Do you need loan, loan with the lowest interest?' 'Yan po sa kanila nanggagaling. 'Yan 'yung makinang ginagamit nila," he added.

(Isn't it we receive for instance text messages about loans. In loan scams for example, the message goes, 'Do you need loan, loan with the lowest interest?' That is from them. That is the machine they are using.)

Cruz said all those within a five-kilometer radius will receive the text blast.

"Five-kilometer radius — kung sino ang tamaan ng text blast na 'yon, automatic makaka-receive ng message na 'yon kahit na kaninong number o ano mang number 'yung dala-dala nila," he said.

(Whoever is within a five-kilometer radius will receive the text blast automatically.)

Cruz said they are also looking at some documents they found.

He also confirmed that they were able to rescue four torture victims.

"At may mga nakuha rin tayong mga boss. Siguro kasama silang nagto-torture," Cruz said.

(We were also able to detain some bosses. Maybe they are among those involved in torture.)

Last week, the PAOCC implemented a search warrant against the POGO hub based on a complaint of alleged human trafficking happening inside the 10-hectare establishment. It was also reportedly involved in various criminal activities such as human trafficking, sex trafficking, torture, kidnapping, and scamming.

A total of 158 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, were rescued during the operation.

Charges to be filed

Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said the presidential body is set to file charges in relation to its ongoing investigation into the POGO hub in Porac.

"In relation to the Porac operation, this is an ongoing investigation," Casio said.

He added, "The inventory will be concluded today so we will have to take a look at all the evidence we have on hand, documentary, testimony and so on as well as digital… and we will decide probably in two weeks time as to the charges to be filed and whom to charge in relation to Porac operation."

Meanwhile, Cruz said PAOCC was conducting a link analysis between the Porac POGO hub and the other POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac, and so far it showed that "nagpapalitan ng mga tao. Definitely magkakarugtong at magkakakilala."

(They are exchanging personnel. Definitely they are linked and know each other.)

Banning POGOs

Cruz said he is personally in favor of banning POGOs due to the illegal activities associated with some of them.

"Oo [sang-ayon ako sa ban]. Sa aming pagtatrabaho sa mga ilegal na POGO, ang na-encounter namin 'yung involvement nila sa murder, kidnapping, drugs... Plus may torture pa rin silang ginagawa," he said.

(Yes [to a ban]. In our raids against illegal POGOs, we have encountered their involvement in murder, kidnapping, drugs... Plus there are incidents of torture.)

"Kung ganito rin lang na puro kahihiyan lang ang dulot nito, siguro itigil na lang natin ito kung hindi natin ma-regulate," Cruz said.

(If these are what we get from POGOs, it is time their operations be stopped if we cannot regulate them.)

"Marami pa po ito. Nasa 300 pa 'yung minomonitor natin. Ito ay nakakalat sa buong bansa," he said, adding that majority of the POGOs are in Metro Manila.

(There are many POGOs. We are monitoring 300 of them throughout the country.) — with a report from Ted Cordero/KG/VDV, GMA Integrated News