Makati cops eye raps vs Parañaque POGO hub

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City police is considering filing charges against the officials of a building in Parañaque City for allegedly illegally detaining five of its investigators, who were investigating a reported kidnapping, an official said yesterday.

Maj. Gideon Ines, who heads the Makati police’s investigation unit, said the building, formerly the Uniwide Pearl Plaza mall, has reportedly been transformed into a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub.

Ines said the building’s officials and security personnel may be charged with illegal detention and obstruction of justice.

In a report by The STAR last Saturday, he said that kidnap victims, mostly Chinese citizens, were being held in the building’s basement, according to his sources.

 “Doon kinukulong ang mga nagkakasalang Chinese, mga magnanakaw, may utang sa mga boss nila… pinoposasan pa sila (Erring Chinese are detained there, thieves, those who have debts from their bosses… they are even handcuffed),” Ines said.

 “They have no right to detain anyone,” he added, referring to the building management. 

Last Friday morning, Ines and four other police officers went to the building to conduct a followup investigation on the alleged kidnapping of Yuan Giao at the corner of Balagtas and P. Ocampo streets in Barangay La Paz on Thursday afternoon.

The vehicle allegedly used to snatch Yuan – a white Toyota Hi-ace van with plate number A5M909 – was registered to Dong Fang Co., an online gaming company with offices at the building, according to the spot report by Ines. The van was registered at the Land Transportation Office’s Davao City office, Ines added.

A security staff of the building suddenly pushed one of the police officers while another security employee, identified only as Sungkuan, pulled out his gun and ordered other security staff to lock the doors of the mall’s lobby.

Ines said they were in civilian clothes and unarmed, but presented their badges as well as copies of the complaint and spot report.

 They were allegedly detained for around an hour, Ines claimed, until the building officials and Parañaque City police officers defused the situation.

 They were able to report the incident to the Parañaque City police, he noted.

 The STAR went to the building but security personnel said the building’s officials would not be around until today due to the long weekend. The country is observing National Heroes’ Day today.