Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla of the Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) said that investigators will look into the discovery of mass graves in Porac, Pampanga, which are allegedly linked to POGO operations raided and shut down earlier this year.
“We are serious about the mass graves, it's a very serious matter that we cannot take for granted.”
Remulla reiterated, during a statement made while commenting on charges of qualified trafficking on two supposed managers of Porac Pogo operations, Lucky South 99 and Whirlwind Corporation. He also reminded others that this was the main reason the nationwide POGO ban was announced by the President in mid-July.
According to Philippines news sources, the graves were discovered within the compounds of the above-mentioned operators, as indicated by findings received by Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio.
“Some reports were sent through various social media platforms. Likewise, some witnesses have approached the group alleging personal knowledge of these crimes,” Casio said.
“Over the weekend, prosecutors, PNP-CIDG (Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) investigators, officers of PAOCC and witnesses have identified possible burial locations,” he added.
“For this reason, we have decided to apply for a search warrant to calm the anxious minds of both the foreign embassies with missing nationals as well as the relatives of those who have disappeared,” the PAOCC spokesperson concluded.
After the nationwide POGO ban was announced, there was increased surveillance to track and remove POGOs that continued to defy the ban. This included another recent raid that had surveillance further intensified.
