PAOCC files trafficking charges against 22 in POGO hub scam

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has filed charges of qualified human trafficking against 20 foreign nationals and two Filipinos involved in a scam operation at a POGO hub raided on February 20th in Parañaque City.

A total of 435 workers, including 148 foreign nationals, were arrested during the raid; over 300 Filipino employees have since been released but are under investigation for conducting sports betting for Indians.

PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz stated that the operation facilitated employment for individuals to work in the POGO hub under false pretenses, constituting qualified trafficking.

The case involves Vietnamese women who served as models to lure investors into cryptocurrency scams before exploiting them financially; three Vietnamese citizens and one Filipino woman testified on the alleged love scam scheme.

In addition to human trafficking charges, PAOCC is considering filing criminal cases against the building owner and seeking forfeiture of the property used by Dan Ying Gaming Corp., which has allegedly been operating illegally for two years.

The Indian Embassy is coordinating with local authorities to check confiscated items during the raid, while some foreign employees who availed of voluntary deportation managed to escape during layovers.

The Bureau of Immigration prioritizes immediate deportation of arrested foreigners and books available flights.