The Philippine Air Force, in collaboration with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission on Thursday utilized two (2) C-130 aircraft to transfer 168 Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) captives from Cebu.
They were airlifted from Brigadier General Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City to Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
On Saturday, the PAOCC led a rescue operation in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, freeing 162 foreign nationals from an illegal POGO hub.
The raid on the Tourist Garden Hotel in Barangay Agus was prompted by a request from the Indonesian Embassy to rescue eight of their nationals.
Six of the eight requested Indonesians were among those rescued.
Along with the 83 Chinese, 70 Indonesian, 2 Taiwanese, 6 Burmese, and 1 Malaysian, five Filipinos involved in the scam were also apprehended.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had previously banned all POGOs due to their involvement in various crimes, including human trafficking and scamming.
“This operation highlights the vital role and the commitment of the PAF and the AFP as a whole, in supporting the law enforcement efforts of the government against organized crime.” PAF Spokesperson Colonel Maria Consuelo Castillo said.
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