THE foreign nationals and Filipinos nabbed during a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) raid in Parañaque City all underwent inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice (DOJ) today.
The POGO workers, totaling 20 foreigners and two Filipinos, were arrested during a recent raid conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) at the ATI Building located across the PITX Terninal in Parañaque City, according to the PAOCC.
“Na-inquest na po natin yung mga foreign nationals na nagpapatakbo ng POGO hub dito sa PITX. And, 20 foreign nationals ang kinasuhan namin dun,” says PAOCC Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz in an interview with the media.
The group was charged with qualified human trafficking, Cruz said.
“Makikita mo naman na talagang sila ang nag-facilitate nung mga nagtatrabaho sa POGO hub na ito para mag-work ng matagal. Yung ginagawa nila, marami silang violation, bukod dun sa mga dokumento na kulang-kulang na pinakikita nila, and yung pagpapatakbo ng isang POGO hub na wala namang kaukulang mga papeles,” aniya.
Some were already charged and some will be released upon the recommendation of the prosecutor’s office.
According to the PAOCC, a total of 465 individuals, 146 were foreigners and 319 Filipinos, were arrested in a raid conducted last February 20.