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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Moro-moro lang': Tulfo blasts uncoordinated raid of Las Piñas POGO hub

'Moro-moro lang': Tulfo blasts uncoordinated raid of Las Piñas POGO hub

Published Jul 10, 2023 09:53 am
Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday, July 10 slammed the lack of coordination between police, immigration officers, state gaming regulators and labor agencies in addressing issues related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).                                     Senator Raffy Tulfo (Senate PRIB Photo)   Tulfo, in a press conference, raised the alarm on the raid conducted by authorities on Xinchuang Network Technology Inc. or Hong Tai, a POGO hub in Las Piñas City last June 27 where an undetermined amount of cash and several firearms were seized by the raiding teams on the premises of the compound.   During the raid, about 2, 714 workers were rescued, 1,284 of which are foreign nationals, while 1,430 are Filipinos.   Computers and phones were also seized during the raid for forensic examination to check if they were being used for illegal activities, such as crypto scams, love scams, and other investment scams.   But Tulfo noted it has already been 13 days but police has yet to specifically identify the criminal liability of the people behind the Xinchuang that are allegedly involved in illicit activities.    The senator noted seven fugitives—four (4) Chinese and three (3) Taiwanese nationals working for Xinchuang have been caught and turned over to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for deportation but there were no investigation conducted to find out if they were guilty of human trafficking before deporting them.   The senator also questioned the move by authorities to clear all of the 1,528 Filipino POGO workers to leave the premises without even finding out if they are indeed victims or complicit to the crime. Specifically, he said, background checks should have been conducted on Filipino directors of Xinchuang namely Dianica Mensah, Oliver Ong, Divina Vidal, Dinalyn Vidal and Daisy Vidal Cidro who could all be guilty of crimes.    Tulfo also said a reliable source told him that some of the cops are using the foreign nationals as milking cows by asking money, ranging from P25,000 to P50,000, from them in exchange for their freedom.   “Ginagawang gatasan lang ng mga awtoridad ang mga raid ng POGO hub kung saan napakaraming lapses  at mishandling na nangyayari (The authorities are just milking the POGO hub raids where there is a lot of lapses and mishandling happening),” Tulfo lamented during the press briefing.   “Nagkakatawaran pa bago matubos ang foreign nationals mula sa kustodiya ng mga pulis. Yung mga Pilipinong kasabwat naman sa kabulastugang ito, imbes na masampahan ng kaso sa korte, ay nabibigyan pa ng ayuda dahil pinalalabas na biktima! (Foreign nationals are still waiting to be redeemed from the custody of the police. Those Filipinos who are complicit in this scandal, instead of being charged in court, are even given aid because they are released as victims!),” the senator pointed out.   Tulfo said he will call for a Senate investigation on the issue saying it is necessary to inquire why no Immigration officials or anyone from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) were present when the raid was conducted.  

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POGO Senator Raffy Tulfo
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