Tag: human trafficking

Suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo and others charged for alleged human trafficking

Suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo and others charged for alleged human trafficking

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The controversial and suspended Bamban mayor Alice Guo along with others were formally charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for alleged human trafficking in connection with the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Tarlac, according to a GMA Network news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

In complaints filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Guo, former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, and 12 officers and incorporators were charged with violation of Sections 4 and 6 of Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended by RA 10364, as further amended by RA 11862.

Among the respondents are Guo’s alleged business partner Huang Zhiyang, who is a fugitive in China, and Zhang Ruijin and Baoying Li, two individuals who are involved in the biggest money laundering case in Singapore.

Guo was also referred to as “a.k.a Guo Hua Ping” in the complaint.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the camps of Guo and Cunanan but they have yet to reply as of posting time.

Evidence – The complainants are the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

“Lumabas na mga ebidensya dito tulad ng fact na siya ang nag apply doon sa dating [letter of no objection] from the local government. Lumabas din ang kanyang involvement doon sa lesser company,” Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking chairperson and Justice Undersecretary Nicky Ty said in a briefing.

(There is evidence such as the fact that she applied the letter of no objection from the local government. Her involvement in the lesser company was also noted.)

“At kasama rin yung ibang ebidensya diyan katulad nung pangalan niya na lumulutang sa mga sabi-sabing document na nahanap sa POGO compound,” he added.

(There is also other evidence such as her name appearing in many documents in the POGO compound.)

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Benjamin Samson said authorities believe that Cunanan is part of a “grand conspiracy.”

“We discovered that the Zun Yuan operation actually started with one corporation which was Baofu, and then another corporation was created. All these three corporations, we believe that they are part of a grand conspiracy to commit labor trafficking,” Samson said.

“In one of the corporations, we found a document wherein the name of Mr. Dennis Cunanan appeared. After piecing together the pieces of evidence, we concluded and we decided that he is part of the grand conspiracy to commit labor trafficking,” he added.

Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros showed documents where Cunanan had introduced himself as the “authorized representative” for the Hong Sheng POGO in Bamban and the Lucky South POGO in Porac.

Other Complaints – According to Ty, the DOJ is now processing the Immigration Lookout Bulletin against Guo, which may be issued next week.

“Hindi naman natin matatanggi na kahit sinong makasuhan ng kriminal ay may flight risk, lalo na kung may resources ito mangibang bansa. Ngunit ito naman kay Mayor Guo, hopefully, no hindi naman siya lilipad dahil siya mismo at ang kanyang mga representatives ang nag sabi na nais niyang harapin ang mga alegasyon laban sa kanya,” he said.

(Anyone charged with a crime is a flight risk, especially if he they have resources to go abroad. Hopefully, she will not leave as her representatives said that he wants to face the allegations against him.)

Aside from this, Ty said Guo cannot travel without a travel authority as a public official.

Ty said that “there is a possibility” that other complaints may be filed against Guo and others.

POGO – Guo was placed under investigation for her alleged links to the 10-hectare POGO compound that was raided in March for alleged illegal activities that include crypto and love scams.

Earlier in June, the Department of the Interior and Local Government filed graft charges against Guo with the Office of the Ombudsman, prompting it to suspend her for up to six months.

Guo’s identity as a Filipino is also under question before the Senate.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has questioned whether Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping is Guo after he presented records from the Board of Investments of the Guo family’s application for a Special Investors Resident Visa.

The documents showed Guo Hua Ping entered the Philippines on January 12, 2003 when she was still 13 years old and her registered mother is Lin Wenyi, the same woman who was alleged to be the mayor’s mother.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that the mayor of Bamban is indeed connected or responsible with the human trafficking that happened at the raided Bamban POGO? Are you concerned that there could be a POGO operating in your locality and criminal activities are being done secretly? If there is a POGO in your locality, did you notice a rise in crime incidents?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Several Chinese nationals arrested in Parañaque City for kidnapping, qualified trafficking and other charges

Several Chinese nationals arrested in Parañaque City for kidnapping, qualified trafficking and other charges

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Recently in the City of Parañaque, elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)’s National Capital Region field unit raided a house in Multinational Village and arrested ten Chinese nationals who allegedly kidnapped seven Filipinos, according to a Philippine Star news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Philippine Star report. Some parts in boldface…

Ten Chinese nationals who allegedly kidnapped seven Filipinos were arrested in Parañaque on Thursday.

The suspects, seven men and three women, were apprehended by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)’s National Capital Region field unit during a raid on a house in Multinational Village, Barangay Moonwalk at around 4:50 a.m.

Col. Jean Fajardo, the chief information officer of the Philippine National Police, said the rescue operation was based on information from one of the victims, a house helper, who alleged that they were held against their will by the suspects for three days.

Acting on the information, CIDG operatives and security guards of the village went into the house and arrested the suspects. Seven Filipinos were rescued in the operation.

Fajardo said the victims were being forced by the foreigners to engage in activities such as love scams and cryptocurrency fraud.

Police seized two firearms and assorted bullets, 17 cell phones, five desktop computers, three laptop computers, passports and identification cards.

The suspects are facing criminal charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, qualified trafficking in persons, illegal gambling, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act.

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 a lot of Chinese nationals living in other villages around the city who could be secretly committing crimes of kidnapping, human trafficking and the like? Are there any groups of Chinese nationals who could be living in households in your local community?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

The pending resurgence of sex tourism in the Philippines is a major concern for the BI

The pending resurgence of sex tourism in the Philippines is a major concern for the BI

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While the Philippines continues to attract more tourists from around the world (read the related post), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is concerned about the pending resurgence of sex tourism in the country, according to a Manila Times news report. Already there have been reports of sex offenders from abroad who were intercepted by the local authorities.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Times report. Some parts in boldface…

 THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has expressed alarm over the likely resurgence of sex tourism in the country as indicated by the frequent arrival and interception of foreign sex offenders (FSO) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other major ports of entry.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said on Sunday that entry attempts by sex offenders into the country have become almost a “daily trend” and are not limited to the national capital Manila, but are also in provincial airports such as Cebu.

Tansingco also said that some unscrupulous groups or individuals could be promoting sex tourism, the practice of traveling to foreign countries with the intention of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for money.

“We will not allow that to happen. We are duty-bound to implement a provision in our immigration act that prohibits the entry of aliens convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude. We will not allow the entry of these undesirable aliens to pose a threat to our women and children,” Tansingco said.

He attributed the possible resurgence of sex tourism to the reopening of the country’s border after the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, there was an increase in online exploitation of women and children. When international travel resumed, the number of FSOs rose, which could show that the exploitation is being continued,” he said. “With the return of tourism, foreigners who intend to abuse our hospitality seem to be returning.”

“We warn these predators not to attempt to enter the country, as we have close coordination with different governments, who provide us information about sex offenders that might attempt to enter the Philippines,” he said.

Under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, those who have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, which includes sex offenders, are ineligible to enter the country.

The Philippines is regarded as among the top 10 sex tourism destinations in the world. Others on the list are Germany, the Netherlands, Columbia, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Kenya and Brazil.

Just over the weekend, BI frontline officers intercepted two more FSOs, identified as Mark David Scanlon and Richard Stuard Patterson, both Americans convicted of sexually molesting minors in the US. They arrived via separate flights at the international airports in Cebu and Manila.

Scanlon, 53, was intercepted after arriving aboard an Eva Air flight from Taiwan at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), while Patterson, 33, was turned back upon arriving from Los Angeles via a Philippine Airlines flight at the NAIA 1 terminal.

Both passengers were sent back to their ports of origin hours after they were denied entry.

Information obtained by the BI revealed that in 2012, a court in Cook County, Illinois, convicted Scanlon on the charge of indecently soliciting a child over the internet.

On the other hand, Patterson was convicted in Oregon in May 2011 on the charges of sexual abuse in the second degree and sodomy in the third degree, where the victims were 15 and 13 years old, respectively.

Scanlon and Patterson are only two of the more than 150 foreign registered sex offenders (RSOs) who have been refused entry at the airports since January.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Do you consider sex-related tourism a major issue for the Philippines’ standing in international tourism? Do you think that there are lots of suspected business joints within your city that could secretly be engaging in prostitution, pornography and human trafficking? What do you think should be done to prevent sex tourism from growing in the Philippines? Do you think that illegal sex-related activities involving foreigners here in the Philippines (for insight, click here, here, and here) are somehow attracting foreign sex offenders to come into the country?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Anti-human trafficking operation in Las Piñas City results in the rescue of several therapists and the arrests of two suspects

Anti-human trafficking operation in Las Piñas City results in the rescue of several therapists and the arrests of two suspects

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Recently in the City of Las Piñas, an anti-human trafficking operation conducted by law enforcers resulted in the rescue of several therapists of a so-called wellness spa and the arrests of two suspects, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The operation took place within Barangay Pamplona Dos.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Eight wellness spa therapists were rescued while two suspects were arrested in an anti-human trafficking operation conducted early Thursday, Nov. 30, in Las Piñas City.

The police said members of the Southern Police District (SPD)-Special Operations (SOU), together with members of the Women and Children’s Concern Section (WCCS) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-National Capital Region (NCR), conducted an entrapment operation at around 12:10 a.m. in a wellness spa located in Barangay Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas City.

The SPD said the arrested suspects were identified as a certain Mary who served as a pimp and receptionist, and a certain Fred, security and maintenance head of the establishment.

The police said the eight rescued victims are now under the care of the DSWD-NCR while the two suspects were brought to the SPD headquarters for documentation and filing of charges.

Police recovered the P500 marked money, used condoms, and three logbooks with details of some customers.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think that there are spa businesses in your local community that could secretly be involved with prostitution and human trafficking?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Chinese national (alleged POGO operator) convicted by Las Piñas City court, sentenced to 20 years prison and P1 million fine for human trafficking

Chinese national (alleged POGO operator) convicted by Las Piñas City court, sentenced to 20 years prison and P1 million fine for human trafficking

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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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Chinese national and local companion arrested in Parañaque City for human trafficking

Chinese national and local companion arrested in Parañaque City for human trafficking

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Recently in Parañaque City, a Chinese national and his local companion got arrested by police officers for the alleged operation of a prostitution ring within the city, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. Take note that this is not the first time that Chinese nationals were involved with prostitution and human trafficking within Parañaque City (click here, here and here).

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…

A Chinese national and his female cohort were arrested by Southern Police District (SPD) agents for allegedly operating a prostitution ring in Parañaque City, according to a news release on Sunday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez identified the Chinese national as Xiao Ji, and his 48-year-old Filipino companion, Arlene Lapurga Geron.

Police arrested the two while serving a search warrant at SoleMare Parksuites in Barangay Tambo on Saturday.

Police rescued seven Chinese nationals and one Filipino woman during the operation, Nartatez said.

They were victims of human trafficking and sexually exploited before they were distributed to high-end hotels, casinos and clubs in Parañaque, he added.

Another suspect, a Chinese national identified as Lin Wei, managed to escape and is now the subject of manhunt. Operatives also seized several firearms, laptops and money.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be Chinese nationals moving around Parañaque secretly committing human trafficking violations? Do you think that Parañaque’s prostitution industry is under the heavy influence of Chinese nationals right now?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Foreign fugitives among those rescued during the June 26 Las Piñas City raid

Foreign fugitives among those rescued during the June 26 Las Piñas City raid

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In the city of Las Piñas, controversy regarding the raid of June 26 continues to grow as it was revealed by the local authorities that there were foreign fugitives among the thousands that supposedly got rescued, according to a GMA Network news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

Police found two Taiwanese fugitives among the rescued workers from the raid in a Las Piñas City establishment recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) said Monday.

Aside from them, the PNP earlier reported that four Chinese fugitives were also discovered from the thousands of workers rescued from the raid.

“During the June 26, 2023 police operation, where thousands of individuals were rescued, four Chinese and two Taiwanese fugitives were discovered,” the ACG said in a statement.

The ACG said the six fugitives have been identified through the help of concerned foreign embassies in the documentation of their respective citizens and cross-matching of their records.

Authorities implemented a search warrant in a compound in Las Piñas over an alleged human trafficking situation.

The police reported that 1,534 Filipinos and 1,190 foreigners were rescued from the raid. According to PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, there were 17 foreign nationalities involved.

While over a thousand Filipino workers were safely released and allowed to return to their homes, the foreign nationals have not been released yet as the documentation of the remaining workers is still ongoing, according to Fajardo.

“Law enforcement authorities have gathered personal information for the remaining one thousand-plus foreign nationals, who will be turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for proper disposition and repatriation process,” the ACG said.

On June 30, five Chinese suspects were subjected to inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice in Manila for violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 and Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Meanwhile, the company that was raided, Xinchuang Network Technology, has denied that it is involved in human trafficking.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the police raid of June 26 has been justified?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Over 2,700 workers rescued in Las Piñas City

Over 2,700 workers rescued in Las Piñas City

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Recently in the city of Las Piñas, police officers rescued more than two thousand seven hundred employees – including several foreigners – after raiding a certain Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) site in Barangay Almanza Uno, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Inquirer news report. Some parts in boldface…

As many as 2,714 people were rescued by police following a raid on a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) firm in Las Piñas City early Tuesday morning.

The NCRPO Joint Police Task Force, led by Deputy Regional Director for Operations Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky and Anti-Cybercrime Group Deputy Director for Operations, Col. Villammor Tuliao, executed search and seizure warrants for computer data at a pogo hub on 501 Alabang-Zapote Road, Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City. According to the National Capital Region Police Office, the operation occurred at about midnight.

Police identified the owner, maintainer, facilitator, and manager of Xinchuang Network Technology Inc., formerly known as “Hong Tai,” as follows: Quiha Lui, Liangfei Chen, Jimmy Lin, and Abbey Ng.

Meanwhile, Xinchuang Network Technology Inc. incorporators include Danica Andres Mensah, Oliver Ong, Divina Trillanes, and Daisy Vidal Cidro.

The warrants were served for the alleged violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. Initial data from NCRPO showed that 1,528 Filipino workers were rescued.

Meanwhile, 600 of the rescued are from China, 183 from Vietnam, 137 from Indonesia, 134 from Malaysia, 81 from Thailand, 21 from Taiwan, seven from Nigeria, five from Singapore, five from Myanmar, four from Yemen, two from Pakistan, two from Africa, one from India, one from Somalia, one from Sudan, one from Cameroon, and one from Iran.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that other POGOs located within your city could possibly be having abused workers kept secret from the public? Do you think that POGOs are somehow connected with local crime incidents?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Police officers rescue 24 foreign women in Parañaque City, two suspects apprehended

Police officers rescue 24 foreign women in Parañaque City, two suspects apprehended

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Parañaque City is back again in the crime news. Instead of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) hitting and running over victims on the streets within the city (click here and here), twenty-four foreign women – specifically Chinese and Vietnamese) – were rescued by police officers Barangay Tambo and they arrested two Chinese nationals for human trafficking, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Twenty-four foreign women, allegedly victims of human trafficking, were rescued by Parañaque police on Monday, Sept. 26.

The cops also arrested two Chinese men identified a Du Wei, 36, and Fang Zeng, 28, the maintainers of the place where the women were rescued. They were charged for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2003.

Police said the 24 women were rescued at around 11:30 p.m. in three rooms of Caseana Building in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.

Col. Renato Ocampo, city police chief, said prior to the rescue operation they received a report that 24 female foreign nationals, believed to be victims of human trafficking, were seen in the building.

Ocampo said that members of the Paranaque Police intelligence section immediately conducted a verification which confirmed the report.

He said that upon checking the passports of the rescued women, it turned out that 10 of them are Chinese nationals and 14 are Vietnamese.

The rescued victims were brought to the Parañaque Police Women and Children Protection Division.

While the Manila Bulletin report did not mention the site of the crime as a sex den, it still reminds me of a Chinese-operated sex den in Parañaque that got raided months ago as well as a cyber sex den in 2021 also in the same city.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Parañaque City resident, what can you say about this latest crime-related news? Do you think that Parañaque still has lots of hidden sex dens or prostitution joints that local authorities have yet to discover? What can you say about Chinese nationals operating discreet prostitution joints in the city? Are these illegal activities affecting your local community? What makes you think makes Parañaque an attractive or ideal destination for operating a sex den or a makeshift prison for people who became victims of illegal joints?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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Over 100 foreign and local workers rescued from POGOs in Rizal and Pampanga

Over 100 foreign and local workers rescued from POGOs in Rizal and Pampanga

carlocarrasco

Thanks to the collective efforts of local law enforcers, more than one hundred foreign and local workers from two Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) establishments in the provinces of Pampanga and Rizal, according to GMA Network’s news reports. Human trafficking and physical abuses are notable elements in the reports.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA news report about the Rizal rescue. Some parts in boldface…

Authorities rescued over 100 allegedly abused foreign and Filipino Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers in Cainta, Rizal, John Consulta reported on 24 Oras Weekend.

The Bureau of Immigration and National Bureau of Investigation conducted an operation on Saturday to rescue workers who were allegedly tortured and held against their will by fellow foreigners.

The victims claimed they were not being paid, while one of the workers alleged that he was kidnapped and forced to work for the POGO. Others were promised free board, lodging, and a high salary for working 22 hours a day.

But even if they were forced to work long hours without being paid, the workers were still allegedly physically punished if they were caught sleeping on the job. Wounds were seen on a worker’s back.

Suspect Lee Mengqiang, a Chinese national, denied harming the POGO workers.

Meanwhile, the NBI also discovered that the POGO’s permit had expired but continued to operate.

Now here is the related news video about the above news story. Watch the video and pay close attention…

About the POGO and rescue of workers in Pampanga, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA Network report. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday said it shut down a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) establishment in Pampanga and rescued at least 43 foreign nationals from allegedly human trafficking.

Following a series of raids, DILG secretary Benhur Abalos and officials of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group permanently closed the Lucky 99 Outsourcing Inc. offices, located at Fil-Am Friendship Hi-Way in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Abalos said the raids resulted in the rescue of the foreign nationals who were brought to the establishment.

The DILG secretary said the police would continue to apprehend individuals involved in similar illegal activities as part of the intensified crackdown on POGOs involved in human trafficking.

“With the help of PAGCOR and the SEC, we will be able to identify who are the individuals behind this illegality,” he said in a statement.

Abalos said the DILG also sought assistance from the Bureau of Immigration to check the visas of the rescued foreign nationals.

“We will make sure that all victims will be accorded due process as the Immigration [Bureau] checks their documents and visas properly to avoid being victimized again,” he said.

The DILG Secretary also encouraged the public to report such illegal activities in their respective areas.

“We are nearing the end of the pandemic and the only way to put a stop to this is by working together,” he added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about these new developments? Are you now concerned that POGOs operating in your city could be secretly committing crimes such as kidnapping, physical abuse and human trafficking? Do you think that the POGOs in your city are somehow adding to new incidents of kidnapping, prostitution, gun smuggling, torture and other criminal activities? Do you believe that the government should permanently shut down POGOs that are involved in criminal activities?

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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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others as well as making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco