Personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Field Office-7 (Central Visayas) joined a police operation on Saturday (August 31) aimed at rescuing local and foreign trafficking victims from an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub located at the Tourist Garden Hotel in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu province.
Operatives of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), along with agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Armed Forces’ Military Intelligence Group 7, Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), which is co-chaired by the DSWD, conducted the joint operation based on highly-reliable intelligence reports.
The joint police operation resulted in the rescue of 10 Filipino women and a minor who are now being profiled and processed by social workers of the DSWD.
“The DSWD ensures the protection of women and children during rescue operations and that their rights are being observed and respected,” DSWD FO-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said.
Director Lucero said the DSWD will also provide the rescued trafficking victims with temporary shelter, psychosocial support and counseling, medical and other services, as well as referral to concerned agencies for other needed interventions.
At least 162 foreigners were found working in the illegal POGO hub and will face inquest proceedings in Manila.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will provide the necessary services needed by the rescued foreign nationals. #
Tagalog Version
DSWD Field Office -7 magbibigay ng tulong sa mga nailigtas na biktima ng trafficking sa Cebu POGOs
Nailigtas ng mga awtoridad at tauhan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office-7 (Central Visayas) ang sampung kababaihan laban sa kamay ng illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) sa Tourist Garden Hotel, Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Ang operasyon ay isinagawa ng mga tauhan ng Operatives of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Armed Forces’ Military Intelligence Group 7, Bureau of Immigration (BI), at Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), base na rin s intelligence report na nakalap.
Ang joint police operation ay nagresulta sa pagkakaligtas sa 10 Filipino women at isang menor de edad.. Sila ngayon ay pawang dumadaan sa proseso ng profiling na isinasagawa ng mga social workers ng DSWD.
“The DSWD ensures the protection of women and children during rescue operations and that their rights are being observed and respected,” sabi ni DSWD FO-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.
Ayon pa kay Director Lucero, bibigyan ng ahensya ng pansamantalang matutuluyan ang mga nailigtas na kababihan. Bibigyan din sila ng kaukulang psychosocial support, counseling, medical at iba pang serbisyo kabilang na ang referral sa mga concerned agencies para sa iba pang interbensyon na kailangan.
Umabot naman sa 162 foreigners ang dinala sa tanggapan ng pulisya matapos na makitang ilegal na nagtatrabaho ang mga ito POGO hub. Haharap din sila sa inquest proceedings sa Manila.
Ang Bureau of Immigration (BI) naman ay maglalaan ng kaukulang serbisyo para sa mga nailigtas na foreign nationals. #