PNP chief: 9 of 17 POGO kidnapping cases solved

NINE out of the 17 kidnappings related to the controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) reported since January this year have been solved by the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Police chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. revealed on Monday.

The PNP chief said that another case has been marked as “cleared,” while seven other cases are still undergoing investigation by the Camp Crame-based Anti-kidnapping Group (AKG).

The Senate had already wrapped up its investigation into the operations of POGO in the country, and some senators have already voiced out their call to cease its operations.

Just last week, the AKG raided a POGO site in Mabalacat City, Pampanga where it rescued a kidnapped Chinese national and rescued at least 40 others who have been illegally detained inside the establishment.

Over the weekend, authorities also raided a POGO site in Rizal and rescued at least 70 foreigners, most of them Chinese, who were also illegally detained in the establishment, supposedly by its owner.

Azurin welcomed the efforts of the Senate in working with the PNP in its effort to find solutions to the crime and illegal activities reported from the Chinese-operated gaming operations in the country.

“The PNP is also grateful for the responsiveness of the senators to PNP proposals that will establish an efficient system of monitoring and identification of alien workers in the POGO industry as well as the exercise of visitorial powers by PNP units to inspect and account for security personnel and systems employed by POGO firms, some of whom have been reported to be active participants in some kidnapping and illegal detention complaints,” he said.

“To further bolster police investigative capacity in Pogo-related incidents, we are seeking to forge a better understanding with concerned government agencies such as the Bureau of Immigration and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. This is in line with operational plans to conduct on-the-spot records verification of foreigners and enforcement of applicable laws and local ordinances that regulate business operations,” he added.

Azurin also said that the PNP has arrested 25,722 persons in 4,708 separate operations against all forms of illegal gambling that resulted in the confiscation of P4.3million gambling bets and the filing of 3,005 cases.

“These aggressive operations will be sustained in the weeks ahead leading to the Holiday Season when we shall double our efforts in response to the exigency of the situation,” he said.

In the campaign against illegal drugs, the PNP chief said they have been continuing to hit hard against high-value drug suspects, with 1,790 operations that have been conducted from September 1-17 that resulted in the arrest of 1,952 drug offenders and high-value suspects.

“These operations resulted in the confiscation of 67.8 kilograms of shabu, 194 kgs of marijuana products and 701,000 fully-grown marijuana plants with a total estimated street value of P625.1 million,” he said.