PAOCC finds torture victims in Pampanga POGO; fears more inside

Authorities have discovered evidence of torture and kidnapping from inside the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga that was raided last Tuesday.

In Saleema Refran’s 24 Oras report, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force rescued a Chinese man after they saw him walking outside the compound handcuffed to a bed frame.

Aside from multiple bruises and wounds throughout his body, the Chinese also had a black eye on his left eye. His clothes were also covered in dried blood. The police said he was a kidnapping victim.

“Nagpumiglas po siya, according dito, para po makatakas siya. Kasi iniwan po siya dun sa loob,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo. ”Humingi po ng tulong yan.”

(He struggled in order to escape. He was left inside the POGO. He asked for help.)

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) fears there are more torture victims being held inside the 10-hectare compound.

“Yung mga boss, dala-dala yung mga susi at pinagkakandado nila yung mga rooms, yung mga kwarto, yung mga buildings. So yung iba naiwan sa loob,” said PAOCC head Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz.)

(The ones in charge all have the keys and they locked the rooms and the buildings, leaving people inside the compound.)

Authorities also recovered a videos showing people being tortured inside the Lucky South 99 Compound. One video showed a male foreigner being repeatedly being 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.

PAOCC earlier reported a woman was tortured and sold thru online bidding for sexual services.

The POGO hub was being reportedly run by Lucky South 99 Outsourcing.

PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio earlier said Lucky South 99 has no license to operate.

Adding to the complications, the PNP has yet to enter the compound after the Malolos Regional Court Branch 14 retracted its search warrant order for unclear reasons.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said they will apply for a new search warrant order.

“The PAOCC made sure na magiging legal po yung pagpasok nila sa establishment,” Fajardo said. “Because of what happened nga recently na nakatakas na naman na tortured.”

(The PAOCC made sure that our entry into the compound would be legal, because of what happened when a torture victim managed to escape.)

Authorities said they will also investigate the alleged connection of Lucky South 99 to Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated, the operators of the alleged scam hub in Bamban, Tarlac last March.

“'Yung mga incorporators po nitong Lucky South 99 ay konektado po doon sa Zun Yuan Technology na nag-ooperate po doon sa Baofu compound sa Bamban, Tarlac,” Fajardo said.

(The incorporators of Lucky South 99 are connected to the Zun Yuan Technology, which operates the Baofu compound in Bamban, Tarlac.)

Fajardo added that authorities have evidence that may lead to the connection of Lucky South 99 and Zun Yuan Technology.

Authorities said they will investigate the Porac local government unit for allowing the POGO hub to  continue its operations without a license to operate approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

The Porac police chief was administratively relieved to pave the way for the investigation.

GMA Integrated News has sought comments from Lucky South 99 and the Porac local government. Their responses will be shared as soon as they are available.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News