Manhunt on for cops working for POGO hubs

MANILA, Philippines — Police are hunting down dismissed colleagues who are allegedly working as henchmen of scam operators.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. vowed to pursue accountability for any PNP personnel protecting clandestine Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs.

“Any active or dismissed PNP personnel caught enabling or shielding these rogue outfits will face swift criminal prosecution and total institutional purge,” Nartatez said in a statement.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said scam hubs are using dismissed police officers and military personnel as muscle for their operations despite the government’s ban on POGOs.

PNP spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co said yesterday that any police officer, whether active or no longer a member of the police force, should not get involved in scam operations and other illegal activities.

“If it is proven that they are acting as henchmen, as reported or as stated by our secretary, we will enforce the law and all legal proceedings against them,” Co said.