The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas on Wednesday filed human trafficking charges against 16 foreign nationals and a Filipino after last week's raid of a Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) hub in Lapu-Lapu City. Lawyer Renan Oliva said the 17 individuals are accused of violation of the provisions of Republic Act 9208 or qualified trafficking in persons. Oliva identified the foreign nationals facing charges as Zhao Shao Qi alias 'Lao Fan', Zhao Long alias 'Xiao Long', Yang Teng Da, Ke Rong Mou alias 'Jordan', Ji Hui alias 'Xiao Xi', Hu Yonghong, Dai Chun Lin, Zhong Donglin alias 'Edison", Lona Halim alias 'Grace',Joni alias 'Gio', San Thwe Thwe, Luo Peng alias 'Alang', Ma Yi, Shen Wen Xia alias 'Xi Xi', Zhuang Jian Guo alias 'Wang Fang', and Wen Qi Zhen. The bureau also charged Zandrew Magdaluyo Cantarona, a Filipino national, for being an accessory to the crime. 'In total there are 17 persons that we placed for inquest proceedings this evening,' Oliva said in a video pos ted Tuesday night. Also on Wednesday, the 162 foreign nationals rescued from the POGO hub in Lapu-Lapu City will be moved to Manila where they will face deportation proceedings. The Bureau of Immigration will also conduct separate inquest proceedings for undocumented aliens and for working in the country without the proper visa and permit from the Philippine government. The joint rescue operation conducted by officers from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking 7 (IACAT-7) composed of various key agencies, including the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission raided a POGO hub in Lapu-Lapu City posing as a resort. Source: Philippines News agency
