The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Tuesday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) various criminal charges against two Chinese nationals in connection with their roles in the illegal activities of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) site in Porac, Pampanga.
Qin Ren Gou, 37, and Jiang Shi Guang, 41, both from Hebei province in China, are the accused face multiple violations under several laws, including the Anti-Human Trafficking Act and various sections of the Revised Penal Code covering robbery, serious physical injuries, and kidnapping.
The charges stemmed from a raid on the Lucky South 99 compound in Pampanga, where PAOCC operatives discovered disturbing evidence of illegal activities, including allegations that workers were brought to the POGO hub by force or intimidation.
One particularly harrowing incident involved a Chinese national who was allegedly tortured and confined to a room for several days, tied to a bed frame. Both Qin and Jiang are believed to be involved in managing the Chinese nationals employed at the hub under these coercive conditions.
Caloocan Deputy City Prosecutor Darwin Cañete emphasized the need to protect the identities of the complainants, citing concerns that the accused or their associates might attempt to intimidate or harm them, either through threats or by contacting relatives in China.
The PAOCC’s latest legal action comes amid growing scrutiny of the POGO industry, especially concerning its potential influence on Philippine law enforcement and judiciary systems.
The Supreme Court’s Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) is now probing allegations that illegal POGO operators may have extended their influence into the judiciary.
This inquiry follows PAOCC’s claim that a trial court in Malolos, Bulacan, recently withdrew a search warrant on technical grounds, halting a planned raid on the same POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.
The OCA is also investigating the allegation of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian that POGOs might have insiders not just in law enforcement agencies but also in the judiciary.