(Photo courtesy of PNP Anti Cybercrime Group)
MANILA –Authorities rescued 2,714 workers of different nationalities allegedly forced to work at an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Las Piñas City on Monday evening.
In a report on Tuesday, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the number includes 1,528 Filipinos, 600 Chinese, 183 Vietnamese, 137 Indonesians, 134 Malaysians, 81 Thais, 21 Taiwanese while the rest are from Nigeria, Singapore, Myanmar, Yemen, Pakistan, South Africa, India, Somalia, Sudan, Cameroon, Iran.
The workers were rescued during the raid by joint operatives from the NCRPO and the Philippine National Police-Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) at the POGO establishment Alabang-Zapote Road in Barangay Almanza Uno.
The operation was conducted through the implementation of the search warrants and warrants to search, seize and examine computer data issued by a local court of Las Piñas against the owners and maintainers of the POGO hub, identified through their aliases Quiha Lu, Liangfei Chen, Jimmy Lin, and Abbey Ng for violating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
The implementation was recorded through the use of body-worn cameras and alternative recording devices while an investigation to track the perpetrators of this activity is underway.
The rescued foreign nationals were documented for booking and possible deportation.
Earlier, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they will continue to work closely with other agencies to ensure that those engage in such heinous crimes are held accountable.
“We must all unite in this fight against human trafficking and help put an end to this inhumane practice,” he said in a previous statement.
"The PNP remains steadfast in its commitment to eliminating human trafficking in the Philippines and pledges to transform the country into a secure place where Filipinos and foreign nationals alike can thrive, explore and conduct business without fear," he added. (PNA)
