CEBU CITY – The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) will file additional charges against individuals who were arrested for allegedly running an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator hub in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Lawyer Rennan Oliva, chief of NBI-7, said that they plan to file money laundering cases against the suspects.
The NBI-7 will apply for a court permit that would allow them to access data stored in the computers found in the POGO hub during a raid on August 31.
“Any contents there can be used as evidence in the money laundering case that are going to file,” Oliva said.
Information acquired from the seized computers could help authorities build an airtight money-laundering case against the suspects, Oliva said.
A team dedicated to pursue the cases will also be formed, said Regional Prosecutor Graeme June Elmido.
Elmido said the 18 suspects, 17 Chinese nationals and a Filipino, have been charged for human trafficking.
“Seven counts of human trafficking charges were already filed in the Regional Trial Court in Lapu-Lapu,” said Elmido.
During the raid, close to 200 individuals were rescued from the Tourist Garden Hotel where the POGO was discovered.