Philippine POGO-run sex trade leaves 26 police officers jobless
Just days after authorities arrested a Philippine Online Gaming Operator (POGO) for sex trafficking, Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said local police bear some responsibility. His comments sparked an investigation that has now resulted in the loss of 26 police officers, including the Pasay City police chief.
In late October, the authorities stopped the illegal operations and rescued 731 trapped people. Less than two days later, Abalos said the operation would not have been possible without police knowledge.
Along with Interior Minister Benhur Abalos, he immediately called for the ouster of police chief Colonel Froilan Wong. The pair also sought the removal of Captain Cristiano Catalunya, commander of the local substation. The substation is located just two blocks from Pasay City Hall and the substation.
Just one punch
The building where the event took place is located on grounds owned by two former online gaming companies, Xushhen Technology Corp. and Xushhen Technology Corp. and Freego Computer Games OPC. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) had previously had its license revoked but was later reinstated. They successfully evaded PAGCOR's scrutiny and obtained a provisional license from Smart Web Technology Corp.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a statement that Mr Huang and Catalonia are currently under investigation. The investigation will provide insight into how they carried out their orders.
At the same time, 24 other unnamed police officers will also become targets of the investigation. The Philippine government and the Philippine National Police wanted to know how they had failed to detect such a massive crime that had gone on undetected for so long on every floor of a six-story building directly in front of them.
Fajardo added that the PNP implements a "one-shot policy" against commanders who fail to perform their duties. The Philippines has recently begun cracking down on illegal gambling. With some police already facing criticism for their involvement with POGOs, the government will not accept the excuses of officers who show even the slightest sign of misconduct.
Nightmare Ends
The Presidential Commission against Organized Crime and the Department of Justice led last month’s raid with support from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and other groups. Since then, more details about what happened have emerged.
The victims were of various nationalities, but most were from China and the Philippines. They were lured into the store with false promises of legitimate jobs, only to discover the truth upon arrival. Life as they knew it was essentially over.
Once inside, they can't leave. Some are sex workers, others man the phone lines for online scams or provide other administrative assistance.
Not all of them are women. The police rescued a number of male slaves, some of whom were imprisoned. The investigation found signs of physical abuse, with several people claiming to be victims of kidnapping.
Authorities also discovered a torture chamber inside the building that was allegedly used to punish patrons. If someone goes to visit a sex worker and can't pay or says something the gang doesn't like, they end up in the room. There they were stun-gunned and beaten with baseball bats, sticks and other tools, according to tools police found.
The Philippines is cracking down on illegal gambling this year, which could help uncover more incidents that authorities have yet to uncover. The scale of this latest raid will almost certainly lead to more arrests.
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Source: www.casino.org
