Latest news with #SaleemaRefran
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Pinoy spouses, children say goodbye to deported Chinese POGO workers
Filipino spouses and children bid farewell to Chinese loved ones who are Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers being deported back to China. In Saleema Refran's Tuesday report on '24 Oras,' alias 'Jacque' expressed worry for the Chinese father of her six-month-old baby. She said she plans to follow her partner to China. But for other Filipinos, it may be the last time they will see their Chinese loved ones. 'Bigyan po sila ng chance kung wala naman pong case na kasangkot ng mga iligal ganun. Pagbigyan po na mapalaya po,' alias 'Marie' said. (Give them a chance if they are not involved in illegal activities. I hope they will be freed.) At least 100 Chinese citizens are being deported to Shanghai, China. They were nabbed during the anti-POGO operation in scam hubs in Cebu, Cavite, Parañaque, and Pasay. The Chinese government paid for their fare to China without any layovers. 'Importante ito sa kanila dahil marami silang nakukuhang impormasyon dito sa bosses especially kung paano sila nag ooperate, saan sila nag ooperate at anu-anong mga sistema sa money laundering,' Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) executive director Gilbert Cruz. (This is important to them since they get information about the bosses, especially on how and where they operate, and their system in money laundering.) Once the deported POGO workers return to China, they will undergo a thorough investigation since some were allegedly involved in large-scale crimes, where many fell victim to different scam hubs allegedly from the Philippines. These cases involved cybercrime, scamming, fraud, and money laundering. 'Ang pinag-uusapan natin dito, billions of dollars. Yung isang na-turn over natin na wanted person sa kanila, umaabot sa P900 billion ang kanyang nakulimbat o na money launder doon sa kanilang bansa,' Cruz said. (We're talking about billions of dollars. One person we turned over is a wanted person for a money laundering case in their country, which amounted to P900 billion.) The PAOCC said since the crackdown on POGO hubs was launched in 2023, about 4,000 people were arrested of whom 2,500 are foreigners deported to their respective countries. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration said it has fixed the delay in the other arrested POGO workers' deportation process. 'Ang main difficulty na lang natin ngayon hindi na yung NBI clearance. Dati kasi medjo ilang buwan pa yung binibilang, ngayon isang araw na lang. Ang magiging challenge ngayon, yung kanilang pasaporte,' BI spokersperson Dana Sandoval said. (The main difficulty we're facing right now is not the NBI clearance. Before, it was being processed for months, but now, it can be processed in one day. Our current challenge is their passports.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
100 Chinese ex-POGO workers deported to China
Some 100 Chinese individuals who worked for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) were deported to China on Tuesday. According to Saleema Refran's report on Balitanghali, they were deported at around 10:40 a.m. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said China paid for the airfare of the deportees, with the goal of ensuring that they will not be able to escape. "Importante kasi sa kanila 'yan dahil marami silang nakukuhang impormasyon dito sa mga bosses kung paano sila nag o-operate, saan sila nag-o-operate, at anu-anong mga sistema sa money laundering ang ginagamit nila," PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said. (It's important to them because they get a lot of information from the bosses here. How they operate, where they operate, and what money laundering systems they use.) "Ang ayaw kasi nila siyempre 'yung hindi nakakarating sa China mismo 'yung mga boss nitong operation ng POGO," he added. (What they really don't want, of course, is for the bosses of these POGO operations to not arrive in China.) Once in China, the deportees will undergo investigation for scamming, cybercrime, fraud, and money laundering. Broken apart Meanwhile, the Filipino partners and spouses of the deportees were emotional when saying their goodbyes, including one who even brought their six-month child. "Sobrang sakit po kasi may anak po kami (It really hurts because we have a child)," one of the women said. The mother is already in contact with the deportee's family and China, and plans to follow him there with their daughter. The former workers were arrested during anti-POGO operations in Cebu, Cavite, Parañaque, and Pasay. They have been declared undesirable aliens due to lack of visas and work permits, and for working in illegal POGOs. Aside from these, they have also been blacklisted and can no longer return to the Philippines. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. banned all POGOs in the country effective July 22, 2024 after raids against illegal POGOs revealed equipment used for torture, love scams, and other crimes. Since the crackdown, some 4,000 former POGO workers have been arrested while 2,500 have been deported. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
05-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
89 foreigners llinked to POGO, scam hubs deported
At least 89 foreigners who are allegedly involved in a scam hub in the Philippines have been deported, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). According to Saleema Refran's Thursday report on '24 Oras,' 77 Vietnamese and 12 South Koreans were deported as part of PAOCC's efforts to decogest its detention facility in Pasay City, as some are getting sick and in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order to hasten the deportation of arrested foreigners. 'Yung temporary detention center natin dito sa Pasay kasi almost 800 pa rin po yung nakakulong natin diyan. And kailangan bawasan na natin. So unti-unti, last month nakapag-deport na rin po kami ng 100 plus and now magde-deport po tayo ng 120 plus,' PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz said. (We have almost 800 foreigners in our detention center in Pasay, and we need to decrease the population. So last month, we deported over 100 foreigners, and we will deport 120 more foreigners.) Some foreigners will also be deported this month, depending on the Bureau of Immigration's release of documents and clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation. Cruz also attended the dialogue between the Philippines and the Criminal Police Department of Vietnam to strengthen the cooperation of the two countries in the fight against illegal offshore gaming and related crimes. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- GMA Network
2 soldiers file rape, attempted rape raps vs. 2-star general
A two-star general in the Armed Forces of the Philippines is facing complaints for rape and attempted rape after he allegedly took advantage of two soldiers in his room after they had drinks earlier. According to Saleema Refran's exclusive report on "24 Oras," CCTV footage showed that a group of soldiers, including the general, arrived at the San Fernando Air Base in Lipa, Batangas, on the night of January 29. Another clip showed two soldiers coming out of the senior officer's quarters crying. Their lieutenant can be seen attending to them, and that's when the two reported the incident. The complainants said in their affidavit that the general asked them to sleep in his room, which they did not take seriously at first. That's when the alleged sexual assault took place. The star-ranked officer denied the allegations against him. He said that the sexual assault was impossible to happen as the complainants could 'overpower' him. 'Complainants are strong, able-bodied military officers who could easily overpower me…They are not under duress nor did I use a firearm or any bladed weapon, nor I use force, threat, or intimidation against their will,' the general's counter-affidavit further read. 'They could have easily left my room, as they had free access to the door or used force to prevent the unlawful act,' he added. The complainants lawyer said rape could happen even to men. 'Yung pang-aabuso, yung panghahalay, pwede siyang mangyari kahit kanino. Pwedeng mangyari sa babae, pwedeng mangyari sa lalaki, pwedeng mangyari kahit sa mga matitipunong mga sundalo,' said lawyer Nico Robert Martin. (The abuse and rape, it can happen to anyone. It can happen to women, to men, and even to the strongest soldiers.) The general was relieved from his post and placed under the restrictive custody of the Philippine Air Force. Investigation from the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability found a prima facie evidence that would entail the general to face pre-trial investigation. Meanwhile, the initial probe findings are already with AFP Chief-of-Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. 'For review na po siya and signature po ng ating chief-of-staff. Siya rin po ang ating convening authority. And the case is currently awaiting his approval for the referral doon sa ating general court-martial,' said AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla. (It's already for review and for the signature of our chief-of-staff. He will also be the convening authority. And the case is currently awaiting his approval for the referral to our court-martial.) 'Yun pong ating accused will face trial under Articles of War 96, ito pong conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. And [Articles of War] 97, conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline,' she added. (The accused will face trial under Articles of War 96, or the conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman; and Articles of War 97, conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.) 'Zero tolerance po tayo for any form of misconduct such as this po,' Padilla also said. (We implement zero tolerance to any form of misconduct such as this.) –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News
