CEBU, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said in a press conference on Tuesday, September 3, that 16 out of 169 foreign nationals caught in an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Cebu were sued for qualified trafficking.
On Saturday, August 31, authorities arrested the foreigners — 69 Indonesians, 93 Chinese, 6 Burmese, and 1 Malaysian — during what was supposed to be a rescue operation on illegal scamming activities at the Tourist Garden Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City.
“Assisted by lawyers from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), the respondents opted to submit the case for resolution,” NBI Central Visayas Regional Director Rennan Oliva said.
Based on the results of the inquest proceedings conducted online before the National Prosecution Service, the 16 alleged traffickers were identified by other foreign nationals as their recruiters.
“When they [foreign nationals] came here, their passports were taken from them so they cannot leave freely out of the country…so that’s why there are foreign nationals who are being charged for qualified trafficking in persons,” Oliva added.
Those charged with qualified trafficking in persons are the following:
Additionally, a Filipino named Zandrew Magdaluyo Cantarona was also sued for being an accessory to the crime.
According to authorities, Cantarona arrived at the Tourist Garden Hotel on a motorcycle on Monday, September 2, bringing with him 51 passports owned by 51 Indonesian nationals under the custody of the NBI.
“During the investigation, it was found out that he is working for his Chinese employer and we have all the reasons to believe that he is one of those recruiters who caused the trafficking of these Indonesian victims,” Arnel Pura, agent-in-charge of the NBI Cebu District Office, told reporters.
Pura added that the passports were material evidence to the case, prompting authorities to arrest Cantarona.
Authorities also apprehended a Filipino “helper” who attempted to smuggle P8 million from the hotel compound. According to Pura, they are not disclosing the identity of the helper as the latter has opted to become a witness in the case.
Immigration law violation
Jamar Matugas, head of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Central Visayas regional intelligence operations unit, said in the press conference that all 169 foreign nationals were charged in violation of immigration laws.
“All of them were charged for being undocumented and working without the proper visas and permits,” Matugas said.
On Wednesday, September 4, the foreign nationals, along with 5 Filipinos, were transported from the Tourist Garden Hotel to the Mactan–Benito Ebuen Air Base, where they would board two C-130 military aircrafts headed for Manila.
According to authorities, the accused foreign nationals will be turned over to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) in Pasay City.
To recall, the case stemmed from a request from the Indonesian Embassy to rescue at least 40 Indonesian nationals who were allegedly forced to work as scammers. This followed the recue of two Indonesians in Mandaue City.
“Those who are charged have to face the cases filed against them before they can be deported,” Oliva told reporters. “They will be given their day in court, the opportunity to answer.”
On Monday, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan ordered the closure of six business establishments that operated at the Tourist Garden Hotel compound. – Rappler.com
