Other POGO execs have also left Philippines – PAOCC

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from the Guo siblings, other top executives of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) have reportedly escaped and left the Philippines, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said yesterday.

“We are monitoring managers, top-level POGO (executives) who have no record of leaving using our airports, but are reportedly already out of the country,” PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz told “Storycon” on One News.

“We have many ports, legal and illegal, throughout the Philippines. We cannot account for some of the private ports built by people who have resources,” he added.

Unregistered ports, some of which were set up by local politicians, are a problem, Cruz said.

He said they are verifying if the port in Sual, Pangasinan is registered with the Philippine Ports Authority.

Sual Mayor Liseldo Calugay was repeatedly mentioned during the ongoing Senate hearings. He did not attend yesterday’s hearing.

Cruz confirmed that Alice Guo has business interests in Sual, including fish cages.

Meanwhile, Cruz said many POGOs are still operating despite President Marcos’ directive.

“Last Aug. 31, we raided a POGO (hub) in Lapu-Lapu City upon the Indonesian embassy’s request regarding eight Indonesians who are reportedly being held against their will,” Cruz said.

“We rescued 168 foreign nationals working on three separate scam farm operations,” he noted.

Trafficking charges were filed against 16 foreigners and a Filipino behind the Cebu POGO operations, Cruz said.

Meanwhile, 18 Chinese were rescued when police raided a suspected illegal POGO hub at the Subic Freeport Zone in Zambales yesterday.

The victims were rescued after Criminal Investigation and Detection Group agents raided the POGO hub or scam farm along Grooper street at around 3 p.m., CIDG director Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said. –  Emmanuel Tupas