Recently in the City of Parañaque, elements of the Southern Police District and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) raided an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) establishment resulting in the arrests of suspects and the discovery of what could be a prostitution den, according to a GMA Network news report. The raid was done due to the POGO’s lack of a license to operate.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA Network news report. Some parts in boldface…
An alleged prostitution den was discovered during a raid in an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) establishment in Parañaque City on Wednesday, authorities said.
The Southern Police District and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) raided the POGO hub due to lack of license to operate, Nico Waje reported on Unang Balita.
“While doing the inspection, nakita nga namin iyong prostitution den (we saw the prostitution den),” PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said.
“Kung mapapansin niyo, mayroon mga babae na nandoon and they have rooms na ginagamit nila sa prostitution (If you notice, there were women there and they have rooms that were being used for prostitution),” he added.
The women, who are all Filipinos, said they are offering only massage services.
In the parking lot on the seventh floor of the building, private rooms and spa rooms were discovered aside from computers and gaming consoles.
The operation on other floors has a license but the workers, most of them Chinese, failed to present proper documents like passports, according to the PAOCC.
Cruz said the workers said their bosses were holding their passports.
With a total of 2,000 workers, the POGO hub declared only 900 of them to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Two Chinese nationals who manage the POGO hub were arrested, according to Unang Balita.
In a statement, the SPD said at least 16 employees alleged to be victims of human trafficking were rescued in the operation.
The PAOCC is looking into the possible closure of the establishment due to violations of human trafficking, labor, and immigration laws.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration is set to visit the area for the profiling of the POGO workers.
Posted below is the related YouTube news video…
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more illegal activities, exploitation and abuses linked with the POGOs within your city? If there is a POGO within your local community, did you notice anything suspicious?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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