The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has intensified efforts against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) scam farms in Bamban, Tarlac.
Two additional victims have also stepped forward, adding their testimonies to the ongoing human trafficking case against several Chinese nationals.
On Wednesday, CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III revealed that eight new individuals were added to the list of respondents in human trafficking complaints, following the accounts of the latest complainants. “We filed for serious illegal detention, as we have now documented victims who were forcibly held and exploited,” Torre confirmed in an ambush interview, adding that the case has been formally submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Torre disclosed that the complainants and newly named respondents are all Chinese nationals. “They were detained and made to work involuntarily. They wanted to go home, to leave, but they were not allowed,” he explained, further stating that the POGO personnel involved held positions enabling them to exert control over the victims.
This latest development follows non-bailable criminal charges for qualified trafficking filed in September with the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) against former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and 13 others. Guo, alongside Dennis Cunanan and 12 executives from three associated companies, faces allegations of operating within the illicit POGO network.
In a separate crackdown, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested 17 individuals during a raid at a scam hub in Parañaque City on Tuesday night. In a press briefing, NBI Director Jaime Santiago shared that a syndicate was using four condominium units in Casiana Residences to conduct large-scale fraud operations involving foreign nationals.
Onsite inspection revealed that suspects contacted victims via platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, posing as representatives from legitimate businesses or acquaintances. These individuals lured victims into fake cryptocurrency “mining” and “farming” investments. Additionally, they operated rigged gambling sites to ensure consistent losses for users.
The suspects face multiple charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175), including Illegal Access, Misuse of Devices, Computer-Related Forgery, and Computer-Related Fraud. Further charges were filed under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (RA 12010) for Social Engineering Schemes and Economic Sabotage.
A Chinese national, Hou Jusen, also faces charges for Corruption of Public Officials, Falsification of Public Documents, and violating the Anti-Alias Law. He allegedly attempted to offer PHP1.5 million ($25,700) in bribes for the suspects’ release. The NBI reported that a Filipino couple who accompanied him may serve as witnesses in the investigation.
