JOINT forces on Friday raided a six storey Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub along Williams St., in Pasay City after reports of illegal activities, including sex trafficking, love and crypto scams rescuing at least 700 workers.
In a media conference on Saturday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said joint forces of the Department of Justice-Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and Office of Cybercrime (OOC), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF), Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), and Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), armed with a search warrant, conducted the raid.
Upon inspection of the location, authorities discovered about 80 rooms which were allegedly used for sexual acts involving trafficked persons.
The establishment also has an “aquarium,” an area where victims of prostitution, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Filipino women, wait to be “selected” by customers.
Remulla said the establishment served as a “self-contained” community for patrons, as it contained facilities including an entertainment center, KTVs, canteens, barber shops, restaurants and dubious spa “services.”
“Para siyang (It seemed to be a) one-stop shop for what you need or what you want for maybe sexually oriented activities,” he said.
Smart Web was one of two POGOs whose licenses were earlier revoked by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and later discovered to be operating under a new business name and the new PAGCOR IGL.
The PAOCC said PAGCOR personnel had earlier failed to examine the area after the compound’s guards refused the inspection team.
As the raid was announced, two Chinese workers approached the authorities and claimed they were being held against their will. Torture marks were present on their bodies, and torture devices were recovered on the fourth floor of the building.
One of the Chinese victims said he was kidnapped and sold for P500,000 five months ago from another POGO operation. The other victim meanwhile said he had been held against his will for over a year and was made to work between 12 to 15 hours a day.
According to authorities, 731 workers were discovered during the search of the premises. The workers were a mix of foreigners and Filipinos.
Seven allegedly trafficked Filipino women were also rescued.
He added that some foreign nationals were allegedly being held and tortured inside the facility. About 10 Filipino women were also rescued.
Several computers possibly used for love and crypto scams were seized.
Nine foreign nationals who were allegedly behind the operation of the POGO hub are under investigation.
Remulla said authorities were now studying the complaints that could be filed against suspects.
Authorities were also investigating the documents of the establishment, which was constructed near the Pasay City Hall, a police station, and a barangay hall.
metrosundaily
