Court withdraws search warrant vs. Porac POGO hub

A court has withdrawn the search warrant it issued against the recently-raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pampanga, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Friday.

The court withdrew the warrant due to technicalities as the warrant did not specify the individuals and items that would be searched, according to PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Authorities discovered evidence of torture and kidnapping in the said hub.

“Hindi kami makapasok sa lugar sapagkat binawi po ni judge ‘yung kanyang warrant na ipinagkaloob sa amin. Maraming technicality, maraming legality,” Casio said.

(We can’t enter the area now because the judge withdrew the search warrant that was granted to us. There was a lot of technicality and legality.)

“Kami po ay nakiusap sa judge… sabi namin sa kanya look beyond the technicality, focus on the merits. Unfortunately, she did not rule based on the merit kaya dineny niya. Ni-reverse niya po. Reverse then denial,” he added.

(We pleaded with the judge… We asked her to look beyond the technicality and focus on the merits. Unfortunately, she did not rule based on merit, so she denied it. She reversed and denied the warrant.)

When sought for comment, SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said the Office of the Court Administrator is currently investigating and verifying the search warrant.

Meanwhile, Casio said they have applied for a different search warrant in another court.

He said they are also conducting an internal investigation amid concerns of possible leaks. 

The raid on Wednesday only led to the arrest of 158 Chinese, Vietnamese, and Malaysian nationals. Casio previously said they expected to arrest more than 1,000, but that information on the operation may have been leaked. 

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the recent raid showed the possible influence of Chinese syndicates in the country’s court systems.

For its part, the  High Court earlier said that it will investigate allegations that some individuals behind POGO hubs may have an influence on the judiciary. —VAL, GMA Integrated News