PAOCC orders freezing of assets of Porac POGO compound

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has directed the freezing and preservation of assets of the whole compound where Lucky South 99 Corp., the corporation that supposedly runs an illegal POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga, is located.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is tasked to apply for a freeze order or asset preservation order from an appropriate court.

"The application shall cover all assets within the compound where Lucky South 99 Corp. is situated that are linked to unlawful activity as defined by R.A. No. 9160, as amended," the memorandum addressed to AMLC executive director Matthew David stated.

Signed by PAOCC chairman Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the memorandum further stated that the AMLC shall determine, based on the evidence, the specific assets that will be included in the said application, which may include, but are not limited to:

• The whole compound where Lucky South 99 Corp. is located (46 buildings); and
• The vehicles parked within the vicinity of Lucky South 99 Corp. compound.

To recall, authorities had recovered videos showing people being tortured inside the Lucky South 99 compound. One video showed a male foreigner being repeatedly struck by a retractable baton to the head and body.

In another video, a woman whose face was covered, was forcibly held by a man while another man repeatedly struck her bare legs.

Lucky South 99 Corp. has no license to operate, the PAOCC earlier said.

Last Friday, the PAOCC reported that a total of 18 sets of Chinese military uniforms were recovered at the Porac POGO hub. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier said that it was likely that the uniforms were only used as props in illicit online transactions. — VDV, GMA Integrated News