The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to probe into Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)-related human trafficking and kidnapping incidents.
The PNP said a total of 42 Chinese nationals were rescued on Wednesday, Sept. 14, inside a POGO company in Pampanga.
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said they already coordinated with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Chinese Embassy regarding POGO operations in the country.
“Remember POGO is a franchise, nagtatrabaho sila dito, may mga working permits sila. All that we have to do is tingnan natin ‘yung kanilang list from the immigration, from the POGO themselves,” Abalos said.
“Ang nakikita natin na isnag factor diyan is ‘yung mabilis silang nakakapunta dito sa bansa at nire-recruit nila itong mga kapwa foreign nationals para magtrabaho dito, subalit pagdating dito ay nangyayari nga ay they are being held against their will,” PNP Spokesperson Jean Fajardo said. —Report from Bea Bernardo/KC-gb
