Cops continue search, probe into raided Pogo firm in Las Piñas
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday deployed 299 police officers to continue searching the premises of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) firm in Las Piñas City and conduct a background check on the rescued foreign workers suspected to be human trafficking victims.
“Early this morning, the Philippine National Police deployed 299 police operatives from ACG, and NCRPO to continue on the implementation of Search Warrant at Xinhuang Network Technologies,” the PNP said in a statement
Last June 27, the police rescued more than 2,000 Filipino and foreign workers of Xinchuang Network Technology Inc.
Warrants were served to the firm for its alleged violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
The PNP said ACG and NCRPO operatives were tasked to obtain the personal profiles of the remaining 1,284 rescued foreign nationals.
“[This] is in connection with the implementation of two search warrants and five warrants to search, and seize computer data on seven buildings [of a Pogo hub] located at 501 Alabang-Zapote road, Almanza Uno [in Las Piñas City],” said PNP.
Current data showed that all previously-rescued Filipino nationals were already granted permission to go home, but 1,284 foreigners are still being assisted by their respective embassy officials.
PNP said that of the 1,284 foreigners, 687 are Chinese, 186 Vietnamese, 140 Indonesians, 135 Malaysians, 83 Thais, 18 Taiwanese, eight Nigerians, five Singaporeans, eight Burmese, two Yemenis, two Pakistanis, two from Chad, one from Ivory Coast, one Tunasian, one Arab, and one each from India, Somalia, Sudan, Cameroon, and Iran.
“We would also like to clarify that these rescued victims are being processed to get their personal profiles, travel history and status for documentation purposes prior to [turning] over to their respective embassies,” the PNP said.
