By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
A Chinese national believed to be one of the “big bosses” of the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility in Porac, Pampanga was arrested in an operation at a resort inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat town.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said the foreigner, whose name was withheld, was arrested on Thursday night, during the service of the search warrant by the CIDG and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) covering five villas inside the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino.
The operation stemmed from information that several foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals, who escaped from the raid at the Lucky South 99 Corporation are hiding at the resort.
“He is now being questioned for investigation by the PAOCC and CIDG. We are still applying for a warrant for the opening of these vaults, so that we can know what are inside of these vaults,” Francisco said in Filipino.
He said they have yet to determine the specific role of the Chinese national in the Porac POGO hub’s operations, whom he only described as a “manager”.
Francisco, meanwhile, said they have yet to validate reports that a former police officer was also nabbed during the raid.
“We are not at liberty to disclose to you now, but rest assured the PNP through the CIDG and PAOCC, is continuously doing surveillance, follow-up operations with regards to these POGOs or scamming hubs in Bamban and Porac,” he said.
On June 5, the PAOCC and the CIDG raided Lucky South 99 in Porac, which resulted in the arrest of at least 186 foreign and Filipino workers.
Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was earlier suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman over charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for her alleged links to the POGO hub Zun Yuan Technology Inc., which was raided by authorities in March.
