Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 10) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) cannot file complaints against human trafficking suspects in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) raid in Las Piñas City as the police failed in its case buildup, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.
In a briefing, Remulla said the DOJ had the Philippine National Police’s commitment that it will pursue case buildup before launching a raid, but this was not followed.
“Sinabi na namin na mag-usap muna bago kikilos, tapos gusto nila file kami nang file ng kaso nang walang ebidensiya,” he said.
“Ang nakaugalian ng kapulisan natin, huli nang huli kahit walang kaso,” he added.
[Translation: We told them to cooperate with us first before acting, and then they want us to file cases without evidence. Our police are used to making arrests without a case.]
Late in June, authorities said they rescued more than 2,000 workers, including foreigners, from alleged human traffickers at a POGO in Las Piñ as City.
READ: Over 2K workers rescued in POGO hub raid in Las Piñas
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/6/27/pogo-workers-rescued.html
Lacking evidence, Remulla said the DOJ released the individuals for \”further preliminary investigation.\”
“Tigil ang trabaho. ‘Yung mga walang visa, pinauuwi na namin. ‘Yung mga may visa, pinapa-cancel para mapauwi na lahat. ‘Yung mga Pilipino umuwi na,” he said.
[Translation: The work had been terminated. For those who don’t have a visa, we send them home. Those who have visas, these are being canceled so that everyone can go home. The Filipinos have returned to their homes.]
The PNP said background check on the foreigners among those rescued from the POGO showed seven of them were fugitives from justice with drug trafficking and fraud cases in their countries. They will be sent home this week, officials said.
Cops milking POGO raid?
Senator Raffy Tulfo, meanwhile claimed some members of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) are extorting money in exchange for the freedom of the POGO workers.
“Merong humingi ng [₱]250,000 para pakawalan yung isang Chinese national. Merong humihingi ng [₱]50,000 para pakawalan yung isang Vietnamese national,” Tulfo told reporters.
“Depende sa estado ng foreign national, depende sa kakayahang magbayad, pero base sa reliable source ko, talagang merong bayarang nangyari,” he added, without offering evidence.
[Translate: There are those who asked for ₱250,000 to release a Chinese national. Some also asked for ₱50,00 to release a Vietnamese national. It depends on the foreign national’s status, depends on their ability to pay, but according to my reliable source, there was extortion.]
Tulfo is asking why there have been no deportations and cases filed, 13 days after the raid. He added that he suspects negotiations on payment are going on.
Tulfo also hit the PNP-ACG for single-handedly conducting the operation, when it should have immediately coordinated with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Bureau of Immigration, labor department, and other member agencies of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
The PNP has yet to reply to CNN Philippines’ request for comment.
Tulfo said his office is preparing a proposed resolution seeking to investigate the Las Piñas raid in hopes of crafting a clear-cut policy on the conduct of anti-POGO operations. He said POGOs should be banned if the government could not regulate their operations.
