Mariano, Marlon arrested in POGO trafficking case

Authorities in Pampanga arrested another co-accused named Mariano and Marlon on Saturday, May 31, in connection with a qualified trafficking in persons case involving Harry Roque and Cassandra Ong.

Mariano was one of 49 security guards on duty when the alleged incident occurred at Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc., a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga.

Marlon served as the operations officer for the security agency assigned to Lucky South 99 during the alleged trafficking operations and was apprehended during an entrapment operation in Barangay Tabun, Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Anti-Organized Crime Unit (CIDG AOCU) made the arrests as part of ongoing tracker operations to serve arrest warrants nationwide issued by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 on May 15.

CIDG Director Police Major General Nicolas Torre III urged other co-accused to surrender, emphasizing that tracker teams are pursuing them 24/7.

Roque and others face arrest warrants for qualified trafficking in persons related to illegal activities at Lucky South 99 POGO hub; Roque denies the accusations and is seeking asylum in the Netherlands.