4 Chinese rescued from POGO

MANILA, Philippines — Police rescued four Chinese who were illegally detained at a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO)’s office in Parañaque on Thursday.

Zhang Dedi, 26; Mo Jun Feng, 33; Chen Shi Ying, 25; and Huang Zhi Ping, 32, were rescued from the premises of First Great Place Technologies on Pascor Drive in Barangay Sto. Niño, Southern Police District (SPD) director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg said in a spot report.

Police received information from Zhang’s partner, Yellah Monares, that the victim – who had been missing since the end of March – was being held against his will at the POGO, Macaraeg said.

Police arrested three foreigners who identified themselves as Henry Saputra, an Indonesian, and Chinese Jacky Chen and Luo Bo. Investigators said they suspect the foreigners are using fake names.

The SPD is set to file charges of serious illegal detention against the three suspects before the Parañaque prosecutor’s office.

Macaraeg, in a statement, said it is “high time that we strengthen collaboration with our foreign agency counterparts” and intensify intelligence gathering to address kidnapping and illegal detention incidents.