Human trafficking is a very serious crime here in the Philippines and this was strongly reflected in the decision of a regional trial court (RTC) in Las Piñas City when it convicted a Chinese national and sentenced him to twenty years imprisonment along with a fine of P1 million, according to a Philippine Star news report. The said suspect was reportedly the operator of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) located in Las Piñas City which got raided.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Philippine Star. Some parts in boldface…
A Las Piñas court has convicted a Chinese man, reported to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), for human trafficking.
In a decision dated Oct. 27, Judge Phoeve Meer of Regional Trial Court Branch 275 found Andy Chen guilty of violating Republic Act 9208 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Meer sentenced Chen to 20 years imprisonment and slapped him with a fine of P1 million.
The court also ordered Chen to pay his victim, a Chinese woman, P400,000 in moral and exemplary damages.
The victim, a POGO worker, was rescued by operatives of the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) during a raid on XinChuang Network Technology on Alabang-Zapote Road in Barangay Almanza Uno on Dec. 1, 2021.
WCPC director Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad assured the public that perpetrators of human trafficking will face the full force of the police.
In June, 2,724 people, many of them foreigners, were rescued from XinChuang’s compound during a police raid.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, are you satisfied with the RTC’s decision on the suspected POGO operator? Are you concerned that other POGOs in the city could be hot spots for criminal activity? Is the POGO in your local community causing more crime?
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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