ONE of the top bosses of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub raided by agents of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group last June 26 in Las Pinas City has turned out to be also wanted in mainland China bringing to eight the number of Asian fugitives arrested during the operation, officials said on Monday.

PNP-ACG director Brigadier General Sydney S. Hernia said that with the assistance of the Bureau of Immigration, they have arrested the 45-year old male Chinese after it was confirmed that he is the subject of a warrant of detention issued by the China Public Security Bureau amid his involvement in illegal business.

“After a thorough investigation and cross-referencing of the foreign nationals’ identities with embassy records, it was determined that these fugitives were wanted in their respective countries for various serious crimes,” Brig. Gen. Hernia said.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said that the latest fugitive discovered has turned out to be one of the subjects of the warrant to search, seize and detain order issued by a local court.

“He was found to be a fugitive from China, one of the subjects of the warrants issued against Xinchuang Network Techonology, formerly known as Hongtai. Lumalabas during a check that he is one of the big bosses ng company,” Col. Fajardo said.

Col. Fajardo said that the PNP-ACG has expressed its full commitment to work with the Department of Justice in filing additional criminal charges for human trafficking and employment of minors against the operators of the raided POGO facility.

The hub was also discovered to be engaged in cryptocurrency, the so-called Love Scam’ and online gambling.

She said that Hernia has already talked with DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla Jr. and agreed to closely coordinate with the DOJ when it comes to building-up cases and the conduct of actual raids against POGO facilities confirmed to be engaged in illicit activities.

She added that the PNP-ACG director had also met with Senator Raffy Tulfo and has committed to identify persons named by the lawmaker in alleged extortion activities on POGOs.

Hernia said that regrettably, they discovered during the passport verification process last July 10 that two of the foreigners were minors: one of them a 17-year old Indonesian and the other a Malaysian who is also 17-years old.

This development has prompted calls for a much closer coordination between the PNP, the BI and other concerned government agencies when it comes to addressing the POGO problem.

“This is a wake-up call. Hindi lang big boss ng POGO. May pito pang wanted sa mga na-rescue kaya babalik na naman tayo sa BI since they are the first line of defense.

Question dito eh dumaan ba sa BI o dumaan ba sila thru the backdoors? Papano nakapasok yung dalawang minors at nagtrabaho dun,” Col. Fajardo said.

Last June 26, PNP-ACG officers rescued 1,534 Filipinos and 1,190 other individuals of various nationalities during the conduct of the raids at the seven buildings of Xinchuang Network Techonlogy, formerly known as ‘Hongai’ located at no. 501 Alabang-Zapote Road in Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City.

The raids were all made on the strength of five warrants to search, seize and examine computer data issued by Executive Judge Elizabeth Yu-Guray.

The PNP leadership headed by General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. had maintained that the conduct of two major raids on two suspected POGO hubs in the country which have engaged in online scams and human trafficking were all legitimate operations authorized by the court and done in utmost transparency.