More than 70 foreigners allegedly detained inside a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) site in Cainta, Rizal were rescued on Friday by authorities, who also arrested a Chinese man.
The National Bureau of Investigation said its agents rescued 70 Chinese workers, two Taiwanese, a Malaysian, and a Vietnamese in the operation conducted in coordination with the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Immigration, and the Chinese Embassy.
“We got a request coming from the Chinese Embassy to rescue Chinese national[s]. Acting on it we immediately formed a team,” NBI Assistant Director for Investigative Service Jose Doloiras said in an ABS-CBN report.
The NBI is still investigating the incident, as the allegation against the suspects “is kidnapping, illegal detention. That is a heinous crime we immediately act on it,” Doloiras said.
“We do not know their purpose… That is what are going to find out because they won’t talk yet.”
According to one of the Chinese victims, he and his colleagues were allegedly forced to work in an online casino and were beaten or tased when they refused by the apprehended man.
The victim also showed burn marks on his back and leg.
The man said he was not told that he would be working in a “fraudulent POGO scheme” upon recruitment.
Doloiras said it was possible the victims were illegal aliens, as they did not have identification or documents to show.
“We are going to process these people, profile them, if they are here without documents we will turn them over to BI,” he added.
He said they are continually working with other government agencies in cracking down on similar operations.
“This is the task of government now. We are doing our best to stamp out these illegal activities,” he said.