Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 6) — Investigations are ongoing to determine whether uniformed personnel were involved in the alleged Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Pasay, which Justice Secretary Boying Remulla described to be more like a “center for vices.”
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), police officers are allegedly moonlighting for the POGO.
“Yung isang report na nakuha namin (From one report we got), involvement of law enforcement personnel in some of these activities…Hindi lang sa isang source nanggagaling (Not only from one source). There are several sources that say several uniformed men have been spotted to be moonlighting for them,” Remulla said in a briefing on Monday.
Law enforcers raided a compound in Pasay City late October, following reports of illegal online casino gaming operations and sex trafficking, noting that hundreds of foreign and Filipino nationals were discovered working on the site.
READ: Senate probe into Pasay City POGO hub sought
In a separate briefing, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it is investigating why the Pasay City police refused to inspect the alleged POGO hub which was later found to be conducting human trafficking.
“Number one is sabi nila, baka sila ay masabihan na nanghihingi (The first thing they said is that some might say they are asking for something), so on and so forth. But we will investigate that,” NCRPO Regional Director Jose Melencio Nartatez said.
‘Center for Vice’
Asked for updates regarding the “torture chambers” found in the raided Pasay site, Remulla said the case was “interesting” and described this particular hub to be “more of a center for vice.”
“Kasi hindi talaga siya POGO. It’s more of a vice center – a center for vice. Seemingly wala naman talagang POGO operations. ‘Yung sa baba, looks like a scam operation talaga,” he said.
[Translation: Because it’s not really a POGO. It’s more of a vice center – a center for vice. Seemingly there are no POGO operations at all. The first floor really looks like a scam operation.]
The Justice secretary said the building had rooms built to cater to “immoral and illegal” activities, including prostitution and drugs.
Remulla added that authorities may have to look at the case from a “culture” perspective, saying that the Chinese suspects involved have no regard for human rights.
“‘Yung culture ng Chinese, parang wala silang (it’s like they don’t have) familiarity with the bill of rights, with any rights of man,” he said.
According to the chief, Chinese culture would be okay with selling people to pay off debts, but this would equate to involuntary servitude which is considered human trafficking under Philippine laws.
Remulla also cited other heinous crimes such as kidnapping that he said “seemed normal for these people.”
“Hindi lang ganitong illegal activities ang nangyayari ngunit meron talagang syndicated illegal activities na nangyayari within this ‘POGO community,’” he said.
[Translation: It’s not only these illegal activities that are happening but there are really syndicated illegal activities that are happening within this ‘POGO community.’]
“These are taken lightly by these people. They seem to act like they have protection,” the chief added.
Remulla said they have reached out to the Philippine National Police to ask help in analyzing the case.
CNN Philippines digital producer Faith Yuen Wei Ragasa and correspondents Anjo Almario and Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.
