THE Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has announced that Interpol has issued a Red Notice against Ronalyn Baterna, the documented corporate secretary of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) firm Lucky South 99. The Philippine government received the notice through the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime on October 13, with the PAOCC office receiving it last week.
Baterna, along with Cassandra “Cassie” Li Ong, the documented representative of Lucky South 99, faces arrest warrants for qualified human trafficking related to the alleged scam hub operated by the POGO firm in Porac, Pampanga. PAOCC has stated that evidence of torture, kidnapping, and sex trafficking was discovered at the site, leading to the rescue of at least 158 foreign employees.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio stated that they will coordinate with the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation to facilitate cooperation between Philippine government agencies and their foreign counterparts in the arrest of Baterna and Ong. Baterna previously testified before the House of Representatives’ Quad Committee, admitting to issuing checks to Lucky South 99 clients, with the largest check amounting to P500,000, funded by Ong.
