PAOCC rescues 159 foreigners from Pogo hub

On Tuesday night, authorities raided a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Pampanga, rescuing 187 foreign and Filipino workers, but a leak prompted some to flee before the actual raid.

The operation was conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Special Action Force, and local police based on a warrant issued by Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 14.

Among those rescued were 158 foreigners from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Korea, along with seven additional Filipinos who fled but were later apprehended by monitoring teams set up roadblocks.

On Friday afternoon, PAOCC resumed their search of the Lucky South 99 compound in Porac after securing a new warrant from a Regional Trial Court in San Fernando, Pampanga following the withdrawal of the original warrant earlier in the day.

So far, 159 foreign nationals have been rescued from the compound with authorities now focused on searching for more victims and possible suspects inside the buildings.

The search is expected to resume this morning as they will be sweeping at least 40 buildings within the Lucky South 99 compound and those adjacent to it.