Bataan BPO raided due to alleged labor trafficking

Authorities raided a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in Bagac, Bataan due to alleged labor trafficking, according to Saleema Refran’s report in 24 Oras on Thursday.

The joint operation was conducted by a composite team from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police- Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) , Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Bureau of Immigration.

The team was armed with a search warrant covering 15 foreigners and seven buildings within the compound.

“May natanggap kaming reklamo na mga Filipinos na biktima sila ng labor trafficking dito,” said  PAOCC spokesperson Dr. Winston Casio. 

(We received a complaint that there were Filipinos who are victims of labor trafficking here.)

“Ngayon meron din mga foreign nationals na andito sa loob na hindi makalabas. Nagrereklamo mga foreign nationals na wala silang liberty na lumabas o umikot dito. May indications of labor trafficking dito.”

(There are also foreign nationals who are detained inside. They are complaining that they don’t have the liberty to leave or move around the compound. So there are indications of labor trafficking here.)

The chief executive officer of the BPO denied the allegations.

“Not true, we are running a business…We are complying to DOLE…Nothing to hide… we are just a business support company,” said Norman Chaw, the CEO of Central One Bataan.

Although the company is not a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), rows of computers, cellphones, other gadgets, and SIM cards were seen inside the raided BPO.

Unlike in POGOs, most of the employees working in the BPO are Filipinos. Data showed that 95% of the 1,500 employees of the firm are locals.

The BPO claims to have permits from the local government and from the Bataan Freeport Area. But the PAOCC said these are not enough.

“Wala siya nung secondary permit galing sa PAGCOR. Although tama yun BPO sya, tapos binigyan siya ng permit, ng, yung tinatawag natin na investment promotion area,” said PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz.

(It doesn’t have a secondary permit from PAGCOR. Although it’s true that it is really a BPO and was given a permit by the investment promotion area.)

Further, upon examination on the computers found inside the BPO, authorities found large amounts of money which could be linked to sports betting scam activities.

All the employees will undergo processing and profiling. The immigration status of the foreign employees will also be checked, according to the report.  —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News