The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has cracked the whip on an offshore gaming service provider in Las Piñas City suspected to be involved in criminal activities.
In a Show Cause Order addressed to its authorized representative, PAGCOR ordered Xinchuang Network Technology, Inc. to explain in detail its defenses against the allegations facing it, and why the state-run gaming regulatory firm should not cancel its Certificate of Accreditation and Authority to Operate.
Alongside the show cause, PAGCOR ordered Xinchuang to cease and desist from all offshore gaming activities pending the completion of the investigation being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The PNP Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) also said four Chinese fugitives were among the persons arrested in the raid. In a text message to ABS-CBN, PNP-ACG spokesperson Capt. Michelle Sabino confirmed the arrests but did not provide details.
This developed as the lawyer representing Xinchuang has demanded the PNP allow the medical treatment of at least 13 of the firm’s foreign workers still in police custody after they were seriously injured during the raid at their work compound in Barangay Almanza, Las Pinas City.
In a letter to PNP National Capital Region Police Office Chief PMaj. Gen. Edgar Okubo, lawyer Ananias Christian Vargas condemned “this exhibition of police brutality against these unarmed foreign nationals, and declare that the use of force is not commensurate with the necessity to prevent escape, as you claim in your press statement.”
Combined operatives of the NCRPO and PNP Anti-Cybercrime and Intelligence groups raided the Xinjiang compound early on June 29, when Vargas said at least three of their workers suffered physical injuries “as a result of the severe mauling by your police officers on the ground.”
On Saturday, the PNP filed criminal charges against five Chinese nationals before the Department of Justice in relation to the raid of seven Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) establishments in Las Piñas, including Xinchuang.
In a press statement, PAGCOR said the POGO office was raided by elements of the PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on June 26, after nearly a month of surveillance operations inside its facility.
According to ACG Director Police Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia, they put Xinchuang under surveillance earlier this month after receiving reports of alleged criminal activities inside the operating site.
Information and pieces of evidence gathered by the authorities linked Xinchuang to possible involvement in human trafficking and cryptocurrency and love scams, among other illegal activities, which the company has denied.
Among those rescued during the raid were 1,534 Filipinos, and over 1,000 foreign nationals from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Singapore, among others.
The foreign nationals were turned over by the ACG to the custody of their respective embassies.
Seized during the raid were computer units, SIM cards, cellular phones, and passports that will all be subjected to forensic investigation.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco, meanwhile, reiterated the state-run agency’s stand against illegal activities that are being linked to offshore gaming.
“We condemn all criminal activities that violate Philippine laws and human rights – regardless of nationality. As we have always said before, PAGCOR will not hesitate to impose sanctions on erring licensees and accredited service providers.”
“Similarly, we will continue to cooperate with our partner law enforcement agencies to ensure that responsible and regulated gaming is observed,” Tengco said.