A Chinese man was rescued from a locked building inside an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga on June 6, 2024.

The man was rescued with the help of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF).

During surveillance by SAF personnel, shouts were heard from inside the building. Using bolt cutters, they broke the padlock of the building, and proceeded to the fourth floor where the man was detained.

Inside the building, there was no electricity where the man was held.

The Chinese national was found in room number four. 

The man had visible bruises and claimed to have been mistreated during his 10-day detention. He said he had not eaten for several days.

The man said to an interpreter that he was beaten up because he was unwilling to be involved in the scheme being run at the hub.

Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz of the PAOCC said their sole intention was to rescue the man, who sought their help, and did not detain anyone.

"Ito lang po ang intention natin, ni-rescue lang po natin siya dahil humingi lang po siya ng tulong sa atin. So ngayon [na] na-rescue na po natin siya ibababa na po natin siya. Bababa na po tayo [at] wala po tayong hahawakan, baba lang po tayo then labas na po tayo," he said.

After the rescue operation, the man was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The building that was entered was also secured again.

In the past few days, several individuals were also rescued from other buildings in the Lucky South 99 POGO hub that was raided by the PAOCC.

Authorities continue to investigate how the POGO hub was able to operate without a license.