ONE of the witnesses in the alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub at the Tourist Garden Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City has testified that she secured her job through a Facebook advertisement.
The witness shared this during the first hearing of the case, which was conducted online on Monday, January 27, 2025, involving 16 foreign nationals and lone Filipino, Zandrew Cantarona.
Working as an administrative staff member in both Pampanga and the Tourist Garden Hotel, the witness revealed she was hired through a Facebook advertisement offering a Mandarin translator position.
She was asked to submit a video introduction and was then interviewed on the messaging platform Telegram by a company representative identified as “Ms. Q.” from the human resources department.
After submitting the video, the witness said she traveled to Royal Garden in Angeles City, Pampanga, where a van picked her up on April 23, 2024.
Her role involved purchasing necessities for foreign national workers, mainly from Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Malaysia.
The witness also revealed that the foreign workers were allegedly restricted from leaving the premises by the team leaders.
They were also threatened with a penalty of P120,000 if they attempted to resign.
She added that the foreign workers' passports were also allegedly confiscated.
Arrival in Cebu
In June, the witness narrated that they were required to vacate the area by the “admin” for an office inspection. After which, they went to a cafe before checking into a hotel.
Five days later, a co-worker informed her that they were instructed by one of the team leaders, “Jordan,” to go to Cebu by batch via a Telegram group chat.
When asked why she agreed to go to Cebu, the witness explained that “Jordan” told her she would receive her salary if she was brought to Cebu.
On the trip to Cebu in June 2024, the foreign workers were taken to the LMSK Building in Mabolo, Cebu City, where they stayed for two to three weeks before relocating to Mango Village in Mandaue City, following the sighting of a drone in the area.
The foreign nationals worked from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
However, Filipino workers, including the witness, remained at the LMSK Building and continued to deliver necessities to the foreign workers during lunch and snack times, at least four to five times a day.
For the third time, the foreign nationals were transferred to Pacha De’ Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City, until they were eventually moved to the Tourist Garden Hotel, leading to the arrest of 169 foreign nationals on Aug. 31, 2024.
As of January 27, the 16 accused, facing seven counts of qualified trafficking in persons, were being held at the Lapu-Lapu City jail, while Cantarona is now detained at the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission headquarters in Pasay City.
The next session of the trial is scheduled for February 26. / DPC