Authorities have apprehended another suspect in the qualified human trafficking case linked to the Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Hub, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Tuesday.
The arrest brings to three the number of suspects taken into custody among the 49 facing charges alongside former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Lucky South 99 executive Cassandra Ong. All are accused of criminal acts tied to alleged trafficking operations at the Porac, Pampanga POGO complex.
In a statement, the CIDG identified the latest arrestee as a 44-year-old Chinese national known as “Boss Terry,” nabbed Monday morning in Angeles City, Pampanga.
“Boss Terry is one of the administrative officers of Lucky South 99 and allegedly in charge of torturing erring Chinese POGO employees,” the CIDG said.
The suspect was arrested under a May warrant issued by Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 118 for violations of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. The warrant carries no recommended bail.
“The arrest underscores the commitment of the Unit in accounting and arresting all wanted persons, to help victims attain the justice they deserved,” the CIDG said.
Previously, suspects alias “Marlon,” the operations officer of the security agency assigned to Lucky South 99, and alias “Mariano,” a security guard on duty during the incidents, were also apprehended.
Roque, currently seeking asylum in the Netherlands, has denied wrongdoing, insisting he was never a lawyer for any illegal POGO and was not legal counsel for Lucky South 99.
Meanwhile, a Pasig City court has ordered the cancellation of the passports of Ong, Roque, and several other accused individuals.