PNP explains: Proper legal process followed in Las Piñas Pogo raid

June 27 2023
POGO HUB- Operatives of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime group inspect a gaming room, one of many at an alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operation hub in Almanza Uno, Las Pinas City on Tuesday, where around 2000 workers were rescued, 1,525 of them Filipinos, while the remaining victims came from China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan among others.
INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) followed proper legal procedure before it raided a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) firm in Las Piñas City last June 27, according to PNP public information office (PIO) chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan.

Maranan made the clarification when asked about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) allegations that the police force reportedly committed lapses due to its lack of coordination with the former’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

Aside from lack of coordination, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also compared the police operation to a “fishing expedition.” He said the arrest made by the force had “no specific grounds” and “no specific complaints.”

“We took note of this statement of SOJ at yun ang ating tinitignan (and we are looking into it), but based on our record, the operation stemmed from a search warrant issued by a competent court,” Maranan said in a public briefing.

He explained that a court issued warrants against the Xinchuang Network Technology Inc for its alleged violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which the ACG served in coordination with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and other agencies involved in regulating the Pogo industry.

Contrary to Remulla’s claim, Maranan said that these warrants stemmed from a case build-up of validated information about the case shown to the court.

However, Maranan said that he has yet to confirm with ACG if it coordinated with DOJ prosecutors in securing evidence as mandated by the latter’s Department Circular No. 20.

Meanwhile, PNP-ACG spokesperson Lt. Michelle Sabino told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message that “Chief PIO (Maranan) and PNP Spokesperson (Police Col. Jean Fajardo) will answer all questions pertaining to operations in Las Piñas.”

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