Clandestine hospitals operating in the Philippines have been discovered to provide plastic surgery services to fugitives and workers from scam centers, aiding them in evading arrest, according to authorities. The revelation came to light after a police raid on an illegal hospital in the southern suburbs of Manila in May. A police spokesperson stated that two more such hospitals are currently under surveillance and may be shut down in the coming weeks.
During the raid in Pasay City, authorities seized hair transplant tools, dental implants, and skin whitening IV drips, which were being used to alter the appearance of individuals seeking to avoid detection. Winston John Casio, a spokesperson for the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC), highlighted the potential for these procedures to completely transform a person’s identity.
The illegal hospitals, believed to be four times larger than the one in Pasay, are reportedly catering to clients from online casinos operating illegally in the Philippines. These online casinos, known as Pogos (Philippine Online Gaming Operations), primarily serve players from mainland China, where gambling is prohibited. However, authorities have uncovered that Pogos have been exploited as fronts for criminal activities, including telephone scams and human trafficking.
During the raid in Pasay, three doctors, two from Vietnam and one from China, a Chinese pharmacist, and a Vietnamese nurse were apprehended. None of them possessed the necessary licenses to practice medicine in the Philippines. Additionally, a hemodialysis machine was discovered, suggesting that the facility offered various medical treatments alongside plastic surgery.
Mr. Casio emphasized that these Pogo hospitals do not require proper identification cards, making them accessible to fugitives and illegal aliens in the Philippines. The existence of the illegal hospital in Pasay City was brought to the attention of authorities through a tip-off.
Under former president Rodrigo Duterte, Pogos thrived as he sought to establish friendly relations with China during his six-year term, which ended in 2022. However, his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has initiated a crackdown on Pogos due to their criminal associations. Mr. Casio stated that the president aims to prevent the Philippines from being labeled a “scam hub” and has directed law enforcement agencies to target scam farms that target people worldwide.
There have been cases of suspected Chinese mafia members undergoing plastic surgery to evade detection, with some potentially linked to the underground hospitals, according to Mr. Casio. The mayor of a town north of the capital, Alice Guo, faced criticism after a Pogo scam center was uncovered near her office. She has also been accused of being a spy for China, prompting authorities to scrutinize her birth records.
2 Responses
This post highlights a concerning real-world application of the information discussed. The discovery of clandestine hospitals providing plastic surgery services to fugitives and workers from scam centers in the Philippines is a clear example of how criminals are using medical procedures to evade arrest. This revelation emphasizes the need for increased vigilance and regulation in the healthcare industry to prevent such illegal activities. Authorities must work closely with healthcare providers to ensure that proper protocols are in place to identify and report any suspicious or illegal activities. Additionally, it is crucial
I was shocked to read about the clandestine hospitals operating in the Philippines providing plastic surgery services to fugitives and workers from scam centers. It reminded me of an incident that happened a few years ago when I was living in Manila.
I used to work for a call center, and one of my colleagues, let’s call him Alex, was involved in a scam operation. He was part of a group that would make fraudulent calls, tricking people into giving away their personal information and money. It was