October 31, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed a complaint for serious illegal detention against eight Chinese nationals allegedly involved in the illegal operations of a raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Bamban, Tarlac.
PNP-CIDG acting director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the complaint stemmed from the allegations of two Chinese complainants who claimed they were made to work in the Bamban POGO against their will.
“They (Chinese complainants) wanted to decline from working and wanted to go home but they were barred from doing so,” he told reporters.
Torre did not give the names of the eight respondents, who he said are already under custody for other cases previously filed. The two complainants are also under CIDG’s custody and protection.
He said the respondents are personnel in the Bamban POGO who are holding positions that “required them to take control of these victims.”
Meanwhile, 17 Chinese nationals with suspected links to a POGO were arrested for operating a suspected scam hub in Parañaque City yesterday.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended the suspects inside four units of a condominium complex in Barangay Tambo.
NBI director Jaime Santiago said they conducted the operation after their agents received information about the presence of a scam hub in the condominium complex.
“Our agents conducted surveillance in the area to verify the truthfulness of the collected information,” Santiago said at a news briefing yesterday afternoon.
The NBI proceeded with the raid after securing a warrant to search, seize and examine computer data from a Parañaque court.
Arrested were Zhao Jian Jun, Huang Cheng Chi, Huang Bi Ying, Li Hui Juan, Lengxin Yu, Liu Xing Rong, Chen Zihao, Zhou You Liang, Chen Xing, Chen Qing Gang, Huang Zhixon, Riu Chen, Mao Jing Hang, Liu Xuan Wu, Wang Wen Bin, Yan Xiao Hong and Yang Yun.
While they were being transported to the NBI’s main office in Quezon City, one of the suspects offered P300,000 for each detainee’s release or a total of P5.1 million as bribe money to the agents in exchange for their freedom.
The suspect who offered the bribe asked if he would be allowed to call their lawyer for the bribe money, unaware that the NBI operatives were about to initiate an entrapment operation.
“We allowed the suspect to call but it turned out that he was calling their main boss and then he offered the release of these 17 persons for P300,000 each,” Santiago explained.
The suspects’ supervisor, Hou Jusen, and two Filipinos arrived with a bag that contained P1.5 million as initial payment for the release of five of the 17 detainees. The agents arrested Hou on the spot.
NBI cybercrime division chief Jeremy Lotoc said the suspects originated from a POGO which apparently stopped operations after President Marcos banned the industry.
“From a commercial setting, they’ve splintered into smaller groups and their nature of operation is either residential or in condo units to avoid law enforcement action,” Lotoc said.
Based on their investigation, Lotoc said the scam hub started its operations in March 2024 while the suspects have been staying in the country for five to eight years.
The suspects were found to be involved in a cryptocurrency scam through mining or farming schemes, illegal gambling operations, theft of bank account information and other fraudulent investment schemes.
The 17 suspects underwent inquest proceedings for violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act and economic sabotage under RA 12010, also known as the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act.
Meanwhile, Hou is facing complaints for corruption of public officials, falsification of public documents and violation of the Anti-Alias Law.
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