In a significant crackdown on illegal activities, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has filed charges of qualified human trafficking against 20 foreign nationals following a raid on a scam hub in Parañaque City. The operation, which took place on February 20, targeted a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub located at the ATI building, directly opposite the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). This hub was found to be orchestrating investment and romance scams, exploiting foreign nationals in the process.
PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz revealed that the raid resulted in the arrest of 435 POGO workers, of which 148 were foreign nationals. The hub, operated by Chinese entities, was a hub of illegal activities, with the PAOCC conducting an inquest specifically for the foreign nationals involved in running the operations. Cruz emphasized the severity of the charges, stating, “Qualified trafficking, because you can clearly see that they facilitated the employment of individuals in this POGO hub to work here for a long time.”
Further investigations uncovered that the scam hub was operating without the necessary permits, adding to the list of violations. Among the victims were three Vietnamese women who were used as models to lure investors into romantic entanglements, only to be subsequently persuaded to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. Cruz highlighted the modus operandi, explaining, “These Vietnamese women were the models they used to attract investors and then after you fall in love, that’s it, they will invite you to invest in cryptocurrency.”
PAOCC Director and spokesperson Winston Casio announced that the agency is also considering criminal charges against the owner of the ATI building, as well as the potential forfeiture of the entire property. The building is allegedly used by the Dan Ying Gaming Corp., where the POGO workers have been operating for two years. Casio noted that the corporation is purportedly owned by a prominent Filipino-Chinese businessman, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
This operation underscores the ongoing efforts by the PAOCC to dismantle illegal POGO operations and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation. The charges filed against the 20 foreign nationals mark a significant step in addressing the broader issue of human trafficking and scam operations within the country.