Police have begun a forensic examination of electronic devices seized from the Sitio Calingking private resort in Barangay Saavedra, Moalboal, Cebu on October 9, 2024, but the devices are illegally located in the Philippines Offshore Gaming. It is suspected that it was used for the activities of the operator (Pogo).
Authorities from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (Cidu) 7 and the Regional Cybercrime Control Unit (Racu) 7 began examining 34 computers, including four laptops, and 226 mobile phones on Monday, October 14 . The search was conducted based on a warrant. It was issued by Judge Ruben Altuber of the Toledo City District Court, Branch 29.
Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Perale, spokesperson for the 7th Police Regional Office (PRO), said the forensic examination aims to determine the type of Pogo operation carried out by the 38 Chinese nationals currently detained at the Moalboal Police Station. He said it was to be done.
The results of the forensic examination have not been made public at this time.
The 38 Chinese nationals are currently being charged with violating Section 7 of Republic Act 562, also known as the Alien Registration Act of 1950, for failing to submit passports or documents to work in the Philippines. . If convicted, they could be deported.
Perale said investigators are also looking into whether the suspects were victims of human trafficking similar to those uncovered in the Pogo Hub raid by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Committee in Lapu-Lapu City.
“We cannot ignore the possibility that they are victims of human trafficking, so our investigation is ongoing. As I said, we have 38 staff members and only one interpreter, so it’s a little difficult. “We need to talk to them one by one to see if they were victims of human trafficking,” Perale said.
According to reports, the 38 Chinese nationals cannot speak English.
Perele did not rule out the possibility that the Chinese nationals detained in Moalboal came from the abandoned Pogo base in Pampanga province or Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, as there were indications of a similar pattern of operations.
He added that after the attack on the Pogo base in Lapu-Lapu City, the foreigners sought other tactics and considered operating in remote municipalities like Moalboal to avoid being easily detected.
The group reportedly rented out the entire resort for 200,000 pesos a month and requested a stronger internet connection, which aroused suspicions.
PRO 7 has stepped up its surveillance efforts and is working with local governments in Central Visayas, especially Cebu, to detect other Pogo hubs that may be operating within their jurisdictions.
Police have also identified two people believed to be behind the operation, including one with local contacts. / AYB, TPT
