At least 169 foreign nationals who were earlier arrested for operating a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations) hub in Lapu-Lapu City were taken on board a C130 plane at around 2 p.m. on September 4, 2024.

The foreigners are comprised of 93 Chinese, 69 Indonesians, six Myanmarese (or Burmese) and one  Malaysian who boarded the plane at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base bound for the office of the Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) in Manila. 

According to Jamar Matugas, head of the Bureau of Immigration Regional Intelligence Operations Unit 7, all 169 foreigners went through inquest proceedings for violation of immigration laws. The inquest was done online through the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice in Manila, along with inquest prosecution by the Task Force on Children and Anti-Trafficking Cases. 

Earlier, 16 of them went through an inquest proceeding on charges for qualified trafficking in persons; 13 of which are Chinese nationals, two are Indonesians, and one Myanmarese.

“But those that are charged have to face the charges filed against them before they can be deported,” Atty. Renan Augustus Oliva, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 director, said. 

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak sought a comment from Zhao Shao who operated the hotel rounded up on August 31, 2024 in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, but he kept mum. 

“The respondents opted to submit the case for resolution. Aside from this inquest, this case…the accused I mean was inquest by the Bureau of Immigration for Immigration Law violation,” Atty. Oliva said. 

Further, digital forensic examination will be done to the computers and gadgets seized inside the hotel. 

“As stated by PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio, there indeed is POGO operation happening here. As well as other forms of scam like love scam, investment scam based on the initial evaluation of the evidence that we have seen during the rescue, like computers and documents leading to those kind of criminal activity,” Oliva also said. 

A case build-up for possible money laundering has also been ordered by NBI head office, Oliva added. 

A Filipino who worked reportedly in the resort took the passports of 51 arrested foreigners. He is also charged as an accessory to trafficking in persons. 

“During investigation it was found out that he is working for his Chinese employer and we have all the reason to believe that he’s one of those recruiters, Chinese recruiters who cause the trafficking of these Indonesian victims,” Arnel Pura, agent in charge of NBI Cebu District Office (CEBDO), said.