DOJ clears POGO service provider of kidnapping raps
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared an online gaming service provider of involvement in kidnapping.
In a resolution made public Wednesday, a four-man panel of prosecutors found no evidence of any involvement of MOA Cloudzone Corp. (MCZ), a Pasay-based Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in the alleged trafficking of workers.
In September 2022, 13 workers, mostly Burmese nationals were rescued in Parañaque by members of the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC).
The police then filed a complaint against MCZ and two other firms saying they were the employers of the rescued workers.
The rescued workers said they were recruited by a certain “Christine Chue Ni Quian” as POGO workers.
But the prosecutors said it was only Christine who advertised, interviewed, and recruited the workers.
‘Basic is the rule that mere allegation is not evidence and is not equivalent to proof. Chares based on suspicion and speculation likewise cannot be given credence,” read the DOJ resolution.
