2 Chinese ex-POGO workers nabbed for extortion

Authorities arrested two Chinese ex-Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers for extortion during an entrapment operation in Parañaque City.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Jun Veneracion on Friday, the entrapment was arranged after a Chinese complainant said that he received a photo from the suspects showing his friend tied up in front of the Parañaque Police Station.

The complainant said that the suspect asked for money twice, and he was able to provide around P50,000 to release his friend.

However, he started to doubt the suspects when he was asked for money for a third time.

“Yung pangatlong hingi na ng suspek ay nagduda na ang complainant at nag-chat siya, through his friend sa Parañaque Police Station, kung mayroon ba talagang nahuli na Chinese national, and he found out na wala,” said Southern Police District Director Police Brigadier General Randy Arceo.

(Upon a third request from the suspects, the complainant started having doubts and messaged the Parañaque Police Station through his friend to check whether a Chinese national really was arrested, and found out there was none.)

“Yung mga nahuling suspek ay kakasuhan ng robbery-extortion dahil yung kanilang paghingi ng pera ay mayroong threat,” he added.

(The arrested suspects will be charged with robbery-extortion because the manner in which they asked for money was threatening.)

The suspects have yet to issue a statement, but further investigation from PNP revealed that one of them was considered a fugitive in China due to his involvement in credit card fraud. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News