CEBU CITY – A group of undocumented Chinese nationals was taken into custody after authorities discovered a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Moalboal town, a top tourist destination in southern Cebu.
A GROUP of Chinese nationals are found in a room with several computer sets in a resort in Moalboal town, Cebu province. (Police photo)
The 38 Chinese were discovered after personnel of the local government unit of Moalboal, Office of the Building Official, Municipal Peace and Order Council, Moalboal Police Station, and Moalboal Bureau of Fire Protection inspected Happy Bear Resort in Barangay Saavedra on Wednesday afternoon. October 9.
Apart from the undocumented Chinese nationals, the joint inspection team also found 34 computer sets, four laptops, 200 cellular phones, and six vehicles.
Police coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration, Department of Justice, Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), and Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit-7 for further investigation.
“They have exclusively rented this resort. Actually, it cannot be considered a high-end resort and you will not suspect that there are unusual activities happening inside. It is located seven kilometers more or less from the highway so we think that this was purposely chosen to avoid detection,” said Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas chief Police Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin.
Pelare said that it remains uncertain if these Chinese worked in the POGO hub.
“There is still an ongoing investigation because we need to look at what is inside the computers. That is why one of our actions taken is for the application of a search warrant for computer data and that will be initiated by CIDU,” Pelares said.
The Chinese started renting the place on September 24.
Police believed that the foreigners came from another area and transferred to Moalboal.
Lawmen are not discounting the possibility that they belong to the same group of foreigners who were apprehended in a POGO hub in Lapu-Lapu City last August.
Pelare added part of the investigation is to check if these undocumented Chinese are victims of human trafficking or if illegal detention was committed.
The resort is owned by a Filipina and her Caucasian husband.
Pelare added that police in Central Visayas have launched an aggressive campaign against POGO.
“After the raid in Lapu-Lapu, we have conducted a lot of proactive inspections and visitations led by local government units because they are the ones who have the authority. The purpose is to check if establishments have necessary permits,” Pelare said.
Moalboal Mayor Inocentes Cabaron said the resort was placed under close monitoring when a request for high-speed Wi-Fi was made.
Cabaron urged barangay captains to be vigilant to prevent illegal POGO operations in the town. “We should be vigilant instead of being alarmed,” said Cabaron.