Alleged Pogo link to human trafficking in Clark sparks call for Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for a probe into the alleged link of Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) to the reported human trafficking inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

Gatchalian, who is leading the call in the Senate to ban Pogos permanently, filed Senate Resolution No. 611, directing the appropriate panel to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the matter.

“These syndicates could be fronting as Pogos but are engaged in criminal activities such as human trafficking and scamming,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

He cited the May 4 rescue of 1,090 individuals – 919 foreign nationals and 171 Filipinos – during a police raid at the Colorful and Leap Group Company in the Clark Sun Valley Hub. The rescued victims were allegedly forced to work in a “fraudulent cyber-enabled industry,” victimizing other people to invest in cryptocurrencies.

READ: ‘Human trafficking’ firm busted in Clark

“There is a need to determine the lapses and the loopholes in government processes that led to the facilitation of human trafficking on Philippine soil that undermines the human dignity of the trafficked persons and also violates their rights against involuntary servitude,” Gatchalian said in the resolution.

He pointed out that the unabated existence of Pogos and their service providers involved in criminalities “continue to smear the name of the Philippines in the international community, pose a threat to the peace and order in the country, and undermine the safety of the Filipinos and foreign nationals in the Philippines.”

“Based on the alarming increase of human trafficking incidents being linked to Pogos, there is a need to re-examine the framework of the Pogo operations in the Philippines, combat and stop the crimes linked to Pogos, close down the Pogos involved in the commission of these crimes, and arrest the persons behind it,” Gatchalian said.

Earlier, Senator Grace Poe also filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the alleged trafficking and fraudulent operations of the Pampanga-based cyber marketing firm.

READ: Poe calls for probe into ‘human trafficking, cyber fraud operations’ of Clark firm

Gatchalian led the Senate ways and means committee in its inquiry into the socioeconomic cost of Pogos.

In March, he recommended pulling the plug on Pogos. He argued that Filipinos “stand to lose more than they will gain from allowing Pogos to continue operating in the Philippines.”

READ: ‘Game over’: Gatchalian wants permanent ban on POGOs

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