DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has ordered an investigation on the city’s police chief and the police officers of a substation following a raid on a Pasay City building that allegedly housed a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) and sex trafficking activities.
“It’s impossible for a policeman at the substation not to know this,” Abalos said in a GMA television interview.
“All members of the substation, the substation commander, and people there will for the meantime be relieved pending investigation,” he added.
The raided establishment was near the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Pasay City Hall.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin said earlier that they would ask the Pasay City government if it was unaware of the activities at the raided building.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said over 300 Chinese nationals, 20 Filipinos, and several other foreign nationals were still being held at the raided building, with 130 other Filipinos having been earlier released.
According to the PAOCC, they would file charges against six Chinese nationals.
“They are teaching the same to our seven female victims of sexual trafficking,” said Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Desk team leader Lt. Col. Lucresio Rodrigueza, “Yung Pilipino siya po yung in charge sa aquarium, saka dun sa payment (The Filipino was in charge of the ‘aquarium’ and the collection of payments),”
The six whom we are going to charge are the ones who maintain the trafficking hub here inside this facility,” said PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio.
Meanwhile, three Chinese nationals, who claimed to be forced labor victims, were seeking help from the authorities.
Officials of the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) have also inspected the facility.