The Philippines marks the first anniversary of the crackdown on the transnational criminal group "Lucky South 99". This criminal network, operating under the guise of offshore gaming (POGO), secretly engages in large-scale telecommunications fraud, human trafficking, and other illegal activities.
From June 4 to June 14, 2024, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), in collaboration with the Department of Justice and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, will launch a large-scale law enforcement operation. Despite challenges such as difficulties in obtaining search warrants and intelligence leaks, law enforcement officers successfully arrested 157 foreign suspects and rescued two abused Chinese citizens.
During the comprehensive search of the involved park on June 7, the police discovered torture tools, forged documents, and several key pieces of evidence, revealing the organization's collusion with several influential figures. The case has since implicated former presidential spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque Jr., Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, and 49 others, suspected of involvement in human trafficking and covering up illegal activities.
The case is currently filed in the Angeles City District Court, and arrest warrants have been issued. Two suspects are detained at the Camp Crame PNP-CIDG detention center, and other involved individuals are being apprehended progressively. Law enforcement is also advancing the revocation of Harry Roque's passport and the freezing of his illegal assets.
This anniversary is not only a review of efforts to combat crime but also a reminder that the path to justice continues. Regardless of the status of those involved, the law will pursue justice to the end.
