Potential threat: Concerns are being raised over whether Chinese military personnel are posing as Philippine Pogos. — The Straits Times/ANN
LOCAL officials sounded the alarm over a potential threat to national security after suspected Chinese military uniforms were found inside a gambling den linked to syndicated criminal activities.
The Philippine authorities recovered at least three military camouflage uniforms with buttons bearing the initials “PLA” during a June 4 raid on the 5.8ha compound of Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo).
There are concerns over whether Chinese military personnel have infiltrated the country and are posing as Pogo employees, Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesman Winston Casio told The Straits Times on June 11.
Lucky South 99 was apparently still running despite having its licence revoked by the government in October 2023 for alleged links to criminal activities.
Casio said the PAOCC is checking if the “PLA” initials on the uniforms’ buttons stood for the People’s Liberation Army of China, which is embroiled in a maritime dispute with Manila over the South China Sea.
“All details with regard to the uniforms indicated that they are of Chinese origin. As to whether they have been used by military officers from the People’s Republic of China, we have not yet reached that conclusion,” he said.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not respond to a request for comment from The Straits Times.
Pogos, which operate online casino games for customers outside the Philippines, have generated controversy over their alleged links to crimes like human trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping and extortion.
The government raided Lucky South 99’s compound in Porac town in Pampanga, north of the capital Manila, following allegations that its online gambling operations were a front for cryptocurrency and love scams using victims of human trafficking.
Inside its facility were 46 buildings, including villas and a golf course.
Among the employees rescued in the raid were 160 foreign nationals, most of them Chinese.
Other foreigners included Vietnamese, Malaysian, Myanmar and Korean nationals. Thirty-six other rescued workers were Filipinos. — The Straits Times/ANN
