730 People Detained in BC Building in Pasay City, 9 Executives and Mastermind Arrested

Raids led by the Philippine Department of Justice and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) destroyed two online BC companies, detained more than 730 people in the facility, and arrested 9 people believed to be behind BC's scenes and management personnel.

The operation was based on a search warrant issued by Judge Maricris Pahate-Felix of the 35th Chamber of the Regional Trial Court of Makatio City. Authorities had previously suspected illegal activities at the facility, including human trafficking and prostitution.

In a report to Civil Sergeant Lucas Bersamin, the Presidential Commission Against Organized Crime reported that the two companies that were raided were Freego Computer Gaming OPC and Xuxhen Technology Corp..

Philippine Entertainment BC has already revoked the licenses of two network BC companies, but the authorities found during the raid that they had obtained a new Philippine Entertainment BC Internet Game License (IGL) under a new business name (Smart Web Technology Corp.).

During the raid, two Chinese men approached law enforcement officials, claiming they had been subjected to human trafficking and illegal detention.

Law enforcement officers are conducting preliminaryPhysical examinationTraces of abuse were found, and a subsequent search uncovered the abusive device used by the suspect from a room on the fourth floor.

One victim told law enforcement officials that he was sold here by the former network BC for 500000 pesos, about five months ago. At the same time, another victim said he had been working in the BC building for more than a year, working 12 to 15 hours a day.

The authorities detained a total of 731 people during the operation, including Filipinos, Chinese and other foreign citizens.

In addition, authorities found at least seven trafficked Filipino women who were being held on the second floor of the building, which was used as a "concubine room" for clients ". The "selection room" is next to a massage parlor that provides sexual services. The authorities found condoms and other sexual devices, fasteners and appliances in the facility.

Law enforcement officers found two female foreign masseurs in the massage parlor, as well as the so-called "sexual service" price list.

Gilbert Cruz, the head of the President's Anti-Organized Crime Commission, said law enforcement found nine BC company executives on the fourth floor of the building, who were identified as the actual owners and administrators. He added: "At first, they were posing as ordinary company owners, but the evidence suggests they were behind this BC building."

Authorities found at least nine safes on the fifth floor, believed to contain funds involved in human trafficking as well as other illegal activities.

During the search of the BC building, other facilities found by authorities included a KTV entertainment area in the basement, an unlicensed clinic and several dining facilities.

Officials of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) stated that in view of the existence of a large amount of evidence of illegal activities such as human trafficking and sex trafficking in the raided sites, it is recommended that criminal charges such as Republic Law No. 10364 "Anti-Human Trafficking Act 2003" be brought against the relevant persons.

He added that they will recommend that Entertainment BC Philippines revoke the temporary licenses of the two network BC companies.

Philippine Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Cheng (Nicholas Felix Ty, transliterated) said in an interview that the raided building apparently provided workers with a full range of services, including many illegal activities.

The authorities believe that employees working at the above facilities, most of whom are Chinese citizens, are believed to be confined to the building or rarely leave the facilities, so the building provides multiple services to meet all their needs, including food, laundry, and even entertainment and sex.

A Filipino chef who is said to have been working in the BC building for a year said: "We cook for the staff upstairs and they will buy things with us. We don't know much about the rest of the building and Filipinos are not allowed to go to restricted areas such as private rooms."