Woman tortured, sold online for sex in raided Pampanga POGO

Authorities on Wednesday reported that a woman was tortured and sold online for sexual services in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub that was raided in Porac, Pampanga.

In Saleema Refran’s 24 Oras report, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said they discovered a video of a woman who was abused by ordering her to dance and being passed around for sex.

“Siya po ay binibenta, bini-bid online. So, at yun na nga po, kung sinong nanalo sa online bidding, siya ang makaka-avail sa sexual services niya at any given time,” said PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio.

(She was being sold via online bidding. Whoever won the bid will avail of her sexual services at any given time.)

“May mga tinutorture dito, pinapalo ng mga baseball bat at mga pinagtatatadyakan dito,” he added.

(Some were being tortured here by being hit with a baseball bat and repeatedly kicked.)

The operation was composed of PAOCC, the Philippine National Police - Special Action Force, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the local police.

Authorities rescued seven Filipinas under illegal detention, and a Chinese woman who was a victim of kidnapping.

Meanwhile, PAOCC said one of the torture victims they were looking for was already dead.

The POGO hub was raided under a search warrant issued by Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14.

Authorities rescued 158 Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysians and Burmese.  Also in the premises were around 50 Filipino POGO staff and security personnel. 

They were brought to Pasay CIty where the foreigners will undergo immigration profiling and processing.

The POGO hub was reportedly involved in various criminal activities that include human trafficking, sex trafficking, torture, kidnapping, and scamming.

The 10-hectare compound has 46 3-storey buildings and villas. It is also guarded with several CCTV cameras and is surrounded by barbed wire-topped high walls.

According to PAOCC, the POGO hub was raided in 2022 when it was under Lucky South 99 Outsourcing and was ordered by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to cease operations.

“Ito po ay pinapatakbo ng Lucky South 99 sa kabila ng kawalan nila ng lisensya,” Casio said.

(The POGO hub was operating under Lucky South 99 despite having no license.)

“So, nagtaka kami bakit sila nag-ooperate. Applying pa lang sila eh,” he added.

(So, we are wondering why they are operating since they were still just applying.)

Authorities are investigating the continuous operation of the POGO hub.

The land owner where the compound is located said the property is subject to execution after they won an ejectment case.

GMA Integrated News has sought comments from Lucky South 99 and the Porac police and local government. Their responses will be shared as soon as they are available.

Meanwhile, the company renting in the compound said they have nothing to do with the POGO operation as their business only involves sub-leasing.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News