Cops welcome Pagcor order shutting down POGO hub

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has welcomed a cease and desist order against a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Las Piñas City wherein nearly 3,000 suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued last week.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), in a letter dated June 27, ordered Xinchuang Network Technology Inc. to “cease and desist from all offshore gaming activities until further notice” after news reports surfaced of the POGO’s alleged involvement in illegal activities.

Sought for comment, PNP public information officer Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan lauded Pagcor, saying it would help police officers in the ongoing investigation on the POGO firm.

Without activities at the compound, Maranan said police would have a much easier time implementing the search warrants issued by the courts.

Maranan said police have opened 71 of the 139 vaults that were seized from the compound.

Seven foreigners, four Chinese and three Taiwanese, who were among those rounded up during the raid, were turned over to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) after authorities learned they are wanted fugitives.

The PNP earlier learned the four Chinese were involved in scamming activities while in the POGO complex.

The Chinese government informed the PNP that it traced the internet protocol address used in the scams to the POGO hub.