Taiwanese alleged POGO trafficking victim says she was told there is a 'protector' in gov't

Senator Risa Hontiveros is pushing for an investigation on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) businesses linked to alleged illegal activities after she presented on Wednesday a Taiwanese who claimed to be a trafficking victim.

The senator presented 23-year-old Taiwanese national Lai Yu Cian or Ivy who was allegedly trafficked into the Philippines to work for a POGO company where she said she experienced abuse and detention.

Taiwanese offshore gaming worker Lai Yu Cian (Ivy) shares how she allegedly became a victim of human trafficking and unfair labor practices, during a press conference given by Senator Risa Hontiveros at the Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. Hontiveros says Ivy's story is 'only one of many' as she called for a crackdown in illegal and abusive Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). Senate PRIB/Joseph Vidal

“Maraming krimen ang nakatali sa POGO: illegal recruitment, illegal detention, at sexual harassment. Kailangang matigil na ang mga ito,” Hontiveros said in a press conference.

Ivy was originally recruited to work in advertising but she later found out it was a POGO business.

“I already told them (employers) I want to go home. I want to go back to Taiwan. But they forced me to work for them,” Ivy said. “They always say that they have a protector behind them who is government people,” she added.

Ivy also revealed that her employer sexually assaulted her.

The Taiwanese national said her Chinese employers warned of killing her if she tried to report to the NBI. Despite the fear of being killed, Ivy sought help from the bureau.

Anti-crime advocate Teresita Ang See said the experience of Ivy is not an isolated case.

See said that a Chinese girl also recently asked for help after being trafficked to work for a POGO business that secretly conducts cyber fraud operations.

“She was given a script on how to defraud people…They were given a script on how to entice people to invest,” she said in the same press conference.

Senate Labor panel chair Joel Villanueva wanted POGO operations to be suspended in the country due to the unabated entry of Chinese tourists for employment, poor collection of taxes, and POGO employees’ involvement in crime, among others. —KG, GMA News