Emmanuel Tupas – The Philippine Star
October 29, 2023 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Over 700 suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued from two Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) firms moonlighting as sex dens in Pasay City on Friday night.
Personnel from the Department of Justice, Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and Philippine National Police raided a building at the corner of Harrison and William streets at around 9:45 p.m.
PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said the operation was based on a search warrant issued by a court against the POGOs, which were found to be operating illegally as their licenses had been revoked by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp.
Nine people believed to be top executives of the POGO firms were apprehended.
Cruz said 731 foreigners and Filipinos were rescued from the building, including seven Filipina women who were required to be in an aquarium-style viewing chamber.
When lawmen went inside, Cruz said two Chinese workers approached the operatives and revealed they were victims of kidnapping. They even showed torture marks on their bodies as proof.
“Torture devices have also been recovered on the fourth floor,” Cruz said in a message on Viber.
One of the victims said he was kidnapped and sold for P500,000. The other man, meanwhile, revealed he has been held for more than a year and forced to work 12 to 15 hours a day.
Condoms and other sexual paraphernalia were also recovered in a massage parlor.
A KTV bar with eight karaoke rooms was also found in the building’s ground floor. A pharmacy with a doctor and two patient beds were also found.
Nine vaults that contained an unspecified amount of cash believed to be proceeds from human trafficking activities were secured. — Nillicent Bautista
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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