The 16 foreigners caught running a POGO which is allegedly fronting as a hotel and resort in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, are now locked up in the city jail.
![POGO, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8abfbc_3b07febd9adc4e4089b9dc53b3af6cc1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_740,h_427,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/8abfbc_3b07febd9adc4e4089b9dc53b3af6cc1~mv2.jpg)
The foreign suspects caught running an illegal offshore gaming operation, allegedly fronting as a hotel and resort in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, are now locked up in the city jail.
The suspects, of which 13 are male and 3 are female, arrived in Cebu from Manila last November 11, 2024 and underwent quarantine.
The three foreign women—an Indonesian, a Chinese, and a Myanmar national—allegedly involved in the online gambling operation are now confined in their cells at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail. They had to undergo a five-day quarantine before being transferred.
The male inmates remain in quarantine and are expected to be placed with the general population soon, according to the Cebu newspaper The Freeman.
Assistant city jail warden Sr. Insp. Neco Manzanes Jr. said this was part of a standard protocol for its inmates, denying special treatment.
Prior to their current detention, the individuals were housed at the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Detention Center in Pasay City.
A Filipino suspect, however, was not detained at the city jail.
READ: P460 Billion Lost to Scams in PH, POGO Operations Linked
All 17 accused face seven counts of human trafficking and have pleaded not guilty. Some of the accused, through their lawyers, have filed bail petitions, but the specific individuals have not been disclosed.
The arrests followed a raid by the Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the Tourist Garden Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City on August 31, 2024.
The Philippine government has intensified its efforts to combat illegal POGO activities, which have been linked to human trafficking, financial scams, and breaches of regulations. In response, authorities are urging local government units across the country to step up inspections of establishments suspected of housing these clandestine operations.
Read related article: PAGCOR Calls For Vigilance Amid POGOs “Masquerading” As BPOs
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