Unlicensed Plastic Surgery Clinics in Philippines Aid Fugitives and Scammers

The Philippines has uncovered secret hospitals offering plastic surgery to fugitives and scammers trying to avoid arrest. The existence of these illicit clinics highlights the growing concern over illegal online gambling operations known as "POGOs" and their potential for criminal activity.

Authorities in the Philippines have discovered a network of secret hospitals that perform plastic surgeries on fugitives and scammers seeking to evade capture. The illicit clinics provide procedures such as hair transplants, dentures, and skin whitening sessions to help suspects drastically alter their appearances and avoid detection by law enforcement.

Unlicensed Plastic Surgery Clinics in Philippines Aid Fugitives and Scammers

The existence of these unlicensed hospitals underscores the growing concern over illegal online gambling operations known as "POGOs" (Philippines Offshore Gaming Operators). These operations, often linked to China, have been accused of serving as fronts for scam centers that employ hundreds of workers, including Chinese nationals.

The secret hospitals, allegedly run by some POGO centers, provide a convenient means for workers to change their identities and escape prosecution. During a raid in May, authorities found an array of surgical equipment and tools for aesthetic procedures, indicating the sophisticated nature of the illicit operations.

Unlicensed Plastic Surgery Clinics in Philippines Aid Fugitives and Scammers

"If you bring all of these together, you can create an entirely new person out of those," said Winston John Casio, a spokesman for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. "We know for a fact that these POGO hospitals have no licenses and permits from the proper government regulatory agencies."

The commission has launched a full-scale investigation into the scope of these clandestine clinics, including the number of locations and patients. The Bureau of Immigration is assisting in the probe, which seeks to identify the extent of the operations and the individuals involved.

Unlicensed Plastic Surgery Clinics in Philippines Aid Fugitives and Scammers

The Philippine government has expressed alarm over the proliferation of POGO centers, which have been linked to a range of criminal activities, including human trafficking, money laundering, and financial crimes. The mayor of Bamban, Alice Guo, recently faced allegations of identity fraud and involvement in establishing a POGO scam center that facilitated "love scams."

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Unlicensed Plastic Surgery Clinics in Philippines Aid Fugitives and Scammers