The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is seeking a search warrant to look into an alleged grave at the facilities of the Lucky South 99, the controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) hub embroiled in several human rights abuses.
POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga (Photo courtesy of PAOCC via Facebook)
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio expressed hope during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 11, that they will be able to get a search warrant this week.
“Meron ho kasing mga witnesses na lumapit at nagsabi na may mga inilibing na mga katawan ng mga foreign nationals diyan po sa Porac sa Lucky South 99 (There are witnesses who came to us and said that the bodies of foreign nationals were buried there in Porac in Lucky South 99),” he said when asked about the alleged POGO hub burial site.
“Kaya kami po ay nag-a-apply ngayon ng search warrant nang sa ganun ay ligal naming matingnan, mahukay iyong mga lokasyon na itinuro ng mga witnesses na di umano pinaglibingan ng mga foreign nationals (We are applying now for a search warrant so we can legally look into, dig the locations pointed by the witnesses that allegedly are the burial site of foreign nationals),” Casio added.
While Lucky South 99 is perceived as the most notorious out of all the POGO hubs in the country, the official listed the scams and crimes associated with it.
Among the scams and crimes he said they found linked to Lucky South 99 are love scam, kidnapping, murder, torture, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and money laundering.
“Halos lahat ng mga krimen associated to POGOs ay meron dito (Almost all crimes associated to POGOs are here),” Casio said.
“My goodness. The list I can go on and on sa dami ng kasong sinampa at isasampa sa dalawang hubs na ito. Iyong sa Porac at Bamban (as to the number of cases that were filed and will be filed against these two hubs. The one in Porac and Bamban),” he added.
Along with the POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac linked to dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, Lucky South 99 is also facing congressional inquiry for alleged incidents of torture and harassment, among others.
Even former presidential spokesman Harry Roque has been embroiled in the controversy regarding Lucky South 99 for allegedly being its legal counsel.