FOURTEEN foreigners-fugitives who fled to Manila to work in local POGO hubs have been arrested as a result of raids conducted by agents of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group so far this year, the head of the PNP-ACG said on Tuesday.

Brigadier General Sydney S. Hernia said the presence of six of the wanted foreigners, four from mainland China and two from Taiwan, was discovered during a raid last June 26 at the seven buildings of Xinhuang Network Techonology along Alabang-Zapote Road in Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City.

The four Chinese were identified as Zhang Quanbao, 29, of Fujian province. Zhang is wanted for contact fraud. Liming Yu, 31, of Hunan province who is wanted for drug trafficking; Liu Jianxin, 33, of Gansu province.

He is wanted for telecom fraud. The last is Song Hanmin, 27, of Hubei province, who is wanted for theft.

The two others were Taiwanese whose records are still being cross-checked by the PNP-ACG with their Taiwanese counterparts.

Hernia said that the active participation and cooperation of different foreign embassies, led by the Chinese Embassy, which assisted in documenting their respective nationals and in conducting a cross-matching of the aliens’ records, led to the identification of the six fugitives.

The official said that the June 26 raid led to the ‘liberation’ of nearly 3,000 individuals subjected to exploitative conditions.

Over 1,000 Filipino workers have been safely released and allowed to return to their homes.

However, law enforcement authorities gathered the personal information of the remaining 1,000-plus foreign nationals prior to their turnover to the Bureau of Immigration for proper disposition and repatriation process.

The PNP-ACG, with the support of the National Capital Region Police Office, conducted the police operation after obtaining warrants to search, seize and examine computer data within the seven buildings of the raided POGO hub.

Last June 30, five Chinese suspects were subjected to inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice in Manila for violation of Section 4 (j) (1) (2) of Republic Act 10364, as further amended by Republic Act 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022), in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

Hernia said that during the May 4 raid at the Sun Valley Hub located in Mabalacat City in Pampanga, over 1,000 foreigners were also rescued.

He said that six Chinese and one Taiwanese, who are also facing various criminal offenses, were among those found working in the raided facility.

“The PNP-ACG remains committed to working closely with legal authorities to gather all necessary evidence and ensure a fair and just legal process,” the general said.

PNP Public Information Office chief, Brig. Gen. Redrico A. Maranan said that given these developments, it is imperative to conduct thorough profiling of the foreign POGO employees in Las Piñas so that any wanted persons are prevented from working and hiding here in our country and ensure that all those working in the POGO industry are not involved in criminal activities.

“The safety and security of both the local and foreign nationals are of paramount concern, and the PNP remains dedicated in combating cybercrime and human trafficking activities embedded in the POGO industry,” he said.

Maranan also categorically denied reports that there was a ‘stray bullet victim’ within the compound during a foiled attempt of some of the foreigners to flee the facility.

“Moreover, it is important to clarify that those who suffered minor injuries when they attempted to cross the high fence with barbed wire received immediate medical treatment from the PNP and Las Pinas City medical teams,” he said.

Investigators are also checking the papers of the raided Las Piñas facility amid reports that they have listed only around 100 employees in their request for permit.

However, authorities found over 2,700 workers during the raid last week in what has been described by officials as a ‘blatant’ effort’ to cheat the government thru non-payment of proper tax.

Many of the foreigners were found to have no passports, the police said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon