Bodies buried in Porac POGO, workers tell PAOCC

Metro Manila, Philippines – At least two witnesses have come forward claiming that the remains of foreign nationals are buried at the raided compound of an offshore gaming operator in Porac, Pampanga, said the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

“May mga binaon daw na mga foreign nationals na pinatay doon sa Porac POGO hub,” PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz told reporters on Thursday.

[Translation: They said that foreign nationals who were killed are buried at the Porac POGO hub.]

“Hindi sila magkakilala… they are pinpointing doon sa parehas na mga sites,” Cruz said of the witnesses, adding that PAOCC is still validating the claim.

[Translation: The witnesses did not know each other but pointed to the same sites.]

The witnesses also worked for the POGO, Cruz said but did not elaborate.

Cruz said the office will seek a search warrant from the court to exhume the bodies. They are also coordinating with embassies to identify the missing persons.

The Porac POGO hub, operated by Lucky South 99, was raided in July following reports of various illegal activities, including scams, human trafficking, kidnapping, and torture.

Earlier this week, the PAOCC and the Philippine National Police filed a qualified trafficking complaint against its authorized representative, Cassandra Li Ong, and 53 others.

The respondents also include Zhang Jie and Duanren Wu, foreign nationals believed to have assisted in the short-lived escape of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. Following her arrest in Indonesia, the controversial Guo is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center on graft charges related to her alleged involvement in illegal POGOs.