DAVAO CITY 鈥� An attempt to rescue a Malaysian allegedly held illegally in a warehouse in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, led to the discovery of a suspected Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub.
A team from the National Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI- Semro) raided a warehouse in Panabo鈥檚 Purok 6, Barangay Manay, at 2 a.m. on Friday and rescued 60 individuals who were suspected to be employed for an illegal Pogo operation.
鈥淭he warehouse was rented by Chinese nationals for an unknown purpose, as based on the available information, no legitimate business is operating [there],鈥� read the NBI-Semro鈥檚 report to Director Jaime Santiago.
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NBI operatives left Davao City at around 1 a.m. on Friday to conduct the rescue operations of alleged kidnapped victim identified as Ruby Lim, who was reportedly kidnapped and illegally detained by Chinese nationals in the Panabo warehouse.
Police personnel and officials of Barangay Manay assisted the NBI in the operation.
NBI-Semro Director Archie Albao said Lim was not found inside the warehouse but the raiding team instead found the 60 individuals composed of 55 Chinese, four Malaysians and a Filipina.
The rescued individuals all claimed to have been working there against their will, according to Albao.
Albao also said the raiding team found two air-conditioned rooms and 60 computer sets which were left on.
鈥淭hese rooms appear to be [hosting] Pogo operations,鈥� Albao said.
He said all 60 individuals were brought to the NBI facility in Davao City for proper verification.
The NBI has started the documentation process to apply for the issuance of a search warrant to seize the set of computers for forensic examination in preparation for the filing of appropriate charges against persons involved in the suspected Pogo operation, Albao said.