Of raps for human trafficking: ‘POGO 17’ plead not guilty

CEBU, Philippines — The 17 people charged for seven counts of qualified trafficking in persons after they were arrested in a suspected illegal POGO operation at the Tourist Garden Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City last August pleaded not guilty during their arraignment yesterday.

Aided by an interpreter and their respective legal counsels, the 17 accused, 16 of whom who are foreigners and considered direct principal in the commission of the crime, as well as one Filipino who is considered as accessory to the commission of the said crime, were arraigned online as they are currently detained at the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission detention Center in Pasay City.

The accused were charged of seven counts of qualified trafficking in persons as there were seven complainants, all Indonesians.

Those charged were Zhao Shao Qi alias “Lao Fan”, Zhao Long alias “Xiao Long”, Yang Teng Da, Ke Rong Mou alias “Jordan”, “Lang Mao” “Yuki”, Ji, Hui alias “Xiao Xi”, Hu, Yonghong, Dai Chun Lin, and Zhong, Donglin alias “Edison” “Xiao Hei”, Luo Peng alias “Alang”, Ma Yi Shen Wen Xia alias “Xi Xi”, Zhuang Jian Guo alias “Wang Fang”, and Wen Qi Zhen. All are of legal age and Chinese nationals.

Also charged was Lona Halim alias “Grace” and Joni alias “Gio”, both Indonesian nationals of legal age and Myanmar national San Thwe Thwe.

In addition, Zandrew Magdaluyo Cantarona, a lone Filipino respondent was also included and indicted as an accessory to the offense.

According to the inquest resolution, the complainants, were recruited sometime in early part of this year were recruited to work in the Philippines either for administrative work, trading, marketing, or online gaming, but they were instead directed to do love scamming activities, among others.

During almost three-hour arraignment and pre-trial, it was agreed that the prosecution will present 36 witnesses while the defense also said that they will present 34 witnesses.

Regional Trial Court Branch 73 in Lapu-Lapu City Presiding Judge Ronald Tolentino directed that the prosecution and defense has 18 and 16 trial dates, respectively, to present their witnesses. Trial proper is set on January 27, 2025 until 2026.

Three of the eight lawyers of the 17 accused manifested before the court that they will be filing their respective petition for bail, to temporarily free their clients pending hearing. Tolentino gave them 15 days from yesterday to file the said petition.

Other lawyers of the accused said that they will still have to confer with their legal team as to the filing of the said petition.

Last August 31, 2024, armed with a mission orders from the Bureau of Immigration, authorities raided the Tourist Garden Hotel at around 2:15 P.M. where they found 169 foreign nationals, 17 of whom are the accused. The POGO hub alleged housed three cybercrime farm sites. — (FREEMAN)