MANILA — A qualified human trafficking complaint was filed on Tuesday against Cassandra Li Ong and 53 others in connection with the raid on Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac, Pampanga.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) submitted the complaint to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Ong, identified as the authorized representative of Lucky South 99, along with several others, is accused of violating Republic Act No. 9208, also known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty revealed that among the other respondents are Whirlwind Corporation executive Duanren Wu, Lucky South 99 corporate secretary Ronalyn Baterna, former president Stephanie Mascarenas, and representative Dennis Cunanan. Singaporean national Zhang Jie, former president of Lucky South 99 Outsourcing, is also implicated.
“Napag-alaman natin na siya din tumulong kay Alice Guo para makapag-billet sa hotel doon sa Batam. Isang pagpapatunay lang ito na interconnected ang mga organisasyon ng Porac at saka ng Bamban,” stated PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio.
Authorities disclosed that more than 10 witnesses, primarily foreign nationals, were victims of human trafficking at the POGO hub in Porac.
“Ang mga foreign nationals na nakita niyo kanina, ito yung mga kinidnap, inabduct para magtrabaho sa Lucky South 99… Masaya sila narescue sila,” said Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Prosecutor Ramoncito ‘Sonny’ Ocampo.
Casio explained that while there were numerous victims, the complaint focused on those who endured the most “heinous” experiences. He described how victims were deceived, lured into debt at casinos, and then forced to work at Lucky South 99 to repay the money they owed.
“This is what we’ve been warning about for a long time. Lucky South 99 is notorious in the POGO community because it is one of the largest buyers of people, specifically those who have fallen into debt at casinos,” Casio added.
DOJ Undersecretary Ty emphasized that the scope of the case is extensive, with many respondents due to the illegal nature of the companies involved.
“This union of Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corporation is not a normal business. It’s a criminal enterprise from the very beginning. Everything about it is illegal,” Ty stated.