34 INDONESIANS ‘ILLEGALLY DETAINED’ IN ALLEGED POGO DORM IN PASAY RESCUED

AGENTS of the Presidential Anti Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Friday rescued 34 Indonesian nationals “illegally detained” in an alleged Chinese-run POGO dorm in Pasay City.

Prior to the rescue operation, the PAOCC said they initially received a rescue request from an Indonesian national claiming he was being detained inside a building in Pasay City. 

The PAOCC immediately coordinated with the  Indonesian Embassy and together with members of the Southern Police District were able to find 34 Indonesians locked inside a dormitory in Pasay City.

PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said  investigation revealed a link between the alleged  Chinese boss implicated in the illegal detention of Indonesians and POGO operations.

The Indonesians, who were former POGO workers whose contracts were terminated on January 21, told PAOCC that they refused to join the Chinese boss to  Cambodia and pleaded instead to be allowed to return to their homeland.

“We were able to find the two bosses and her administrative officer. When we showed their pictures to the 34 victims, they specifically identified Liu Meng to be the big boss and they said that the guy in black, the administrative officer, was the one holding their passports,” PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio told reporters.

One of the rescued Indonesians said he was clueless as to why they would go to Cambodia.

Casio said the two Chinese suspects and the 34 rescued Indonesians are currently in the PAOCC Custodial Facility.

According to the PAOCC spokesperson, the arrested Chinese nationals may face criminal or immigration charges.

Meanwhile, while the rescue operation for the Indonesian nationals were being conducted, the PAOCC received another rescue request from a Chinese national, claiming his friend was kidnapped and tortured by his fellow Chinese nationals inside a condominium unit in Paranaque City.

Members of the Southern Police District and the Pasay City Police Station conducted an operation and rescued the Chinese national and arrested three of his kidnappers, allegedly part of a syndicate.