Sen. Grace Poe detailed in her privilege speech in the Senate this Wednesday the alleged new incident of kidnapping related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
According to Poe, the victim was her friend’s sister-in-law.
“A trusted friend just told me that two days ago, his sister-in-law was abducted in a very busy area here in Pasay, and brought to a POGO dorm in Cavite where she was sold off to a Chinese-looking buyer. Before the abduction, the victim was allegedly offered a job as a personal assistant for a minimum of P100,000 a month,” he said.
When she went down to the condominium where she was staying to meet the supposed employer, she was allegedly forced into an SUV. Luckily, a friend took a photo of the car.
It is said that the victim tried to run away, but the kidnappers beat her, causing her to suffer bruises on her body; then, she was taken to a place in Cavite where some Chinese allegedly wanted to buy her for P320,000.00.
Sen. Poe exposes another POGO-related kidnapping
“Nakiusap ang biktima sa isa sa mga “buyers” kung pwede siyang bilhin para makawala siya sa mga kidnapper at pagkatapos ay tawagan na lang ang kaniyang kapatid na magbabayad para tubusin siya. Naawa ang buyer dahil sa kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng biktima na puro pasa at sugat kaya binili siya at dinala sa isang POGO dorm,” said Poe.
A Chinese national was also reportedly rescued by the Philippine National Police from the same company on October 30.
Poe also shared the rescue of 23 Myanmar and 6 Chinese nationals on September 30.
The senator expressed concern that incidents of kidnapping and other crimes related to POGOs continue despite the PNP’s statement that there are no new incidents related to POGOs during the Senate Committee on Ways and Means hearing held on November 23.
“Allow me to reiterate my call. Let’s face the music and decide once and for all if our institutions are still stronger than POGO and can rein in the risk to peace and order, and possible long-term damage to the rule of law while these POGO-related crimes continue,” the senator said.
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