THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) yesterday said it has transferred to the Pasig City jail five former executives of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs who have been charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of qualified human trafficking.

In a press briefing organized by the Philippine Information Agency, BJMP spokesman Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera said Thelma Laranan, 65; Rachelle Joan Carreon, 35; Rita Yturralde, 49; Rowena Evangelista, 53; and Jamielyn Cruz, 37 were turned over by the NBI to the custody of the Pasig city jail last September 26.

The five are among the seven who surrendered to the NBI over a week ago. The two others were Roderick Pujante and Juan Alpas.

The seven were named co-accused of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in the qualified human trafficking case in connection with their alleged participation in the illegal operation of two Bamban-based POGO facilities that have been raided and shut down by authorities.

Bustinera surmised Pujante and Alpas are still with the NBI. “What we can say is we received five (detainees), five females… We can confirm the five are in our custody,” he said.

He added: “They were transported last week, September 26. They were brought (to the Pasig City Jail) by the National Bureau of Investigation.”

The PNP on September 23 transferred Guo to the Pasig city jail on orders of the Pasig City Regional Trail Court Branch 167.

Guo was initially detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame after she was arrested in Indonesia last September 4.

In a related development, Bustinera said the court has approved a request of the BJMP for Guo to undergo a medical check-up. 

Bustinera said senators, during a recent Senate hearing on offshore gaming hubs, told the BJMP that it will be “much better” if Guo will undergo a medical check-up.

An x-ray test, conducted prior to her transfer to the Pasig City jail, earlier showed the dismissed mayor had lung infection. A subsequent test showed she has no tuberculosis.

“We received a court order for her to have medical check-up. This is an initiative of the BJMP to address the concern of our senators during the last Senate hearing,” said Bustinera.

“We requested the court, and this was approved,” he added.

As to when Guo will undergo the medical check-up, he said the bureau is still coordinating with an unnamed hospital.

He also said that the check-up would depend on whether Guo wants to undergo the medical procedure.

“So far she is okay, there are no health concerns that were noted by our BJMP doctors,” said Bustinera.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Committee on Women spearheading the POGO probe in the Senate, yesterday furnished reporters a copy of the Pasig court order allowing Guo, whose Chinese name is Guo Hua Ping, and five of her co-accused to attend the hearing scheduled on October 8 at 10 a.m.

Aside from Guo, Judge Annielyn Medes-Cabelis also directed the Pasig city jail female dormitory to bring Cruz, Laranan, Yturralde, Evangelista and Carreon to the Senate.

Cruz is allegedly the president of the Bamban POGO hub Zun Yuan Technologies, while Yturralde is the purported treasurer and Laranan the supposed president and CEO of Hong Sheng Gaming Technology Inc, another POGO that operated in Bamban.

“The two requests of Gemma Genoveva Tampiengco are granted considering that the Senate of the Philippines is a co-equal branch of the judiciary, and the subject inquiry is in aid of legislation,” Cabelis said in her order.

Tampiengco is the Committee on Women secretary.

PH POGO BAN

In a statement, the Department of Justice said that this was one of the topics discussed by Remulla as he and other key department officials conducted a state visit which highlighted the high-level discussions between the Philippine delegation and top officials of Timor-Leste.

In a statement, the Department of Justice said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has briefed Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta about the order of President Marcos Jr. to ban the operation of all POGOs in the Philippines because of the social ills associated with the industry.

Remulla is in Timor Leste for a state visit.

In their meeting earlier this week, Remulla also told Horta about reports that Timor-Leste is supposedly being eyed by offshore gaming operators as one of their possible destinations following their exit from the Philippines.

The statement said the DOJ secretary took the opportunity to detail the difficulties encountered by the Philippine government during the years that POGOs operated in the country, including issues related to crimes, regulatory evasion, and potential threats to public safety.

Remulla urged Horta and other Timor Leste officials to critically examine the broader implications of allowing the operations of offshore gaming players and how these might affect their domestic affairs.

“It was relayed that there are reports indicating Timor-Leste as one of the possible destinations where POGO operations could transfer,” the DOJ said. – With Raymond Africa