Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) — Witnesses who retracted their statements and refuse to testify after they were rescued from a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Las Piñas City should face criminal charges, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Wednesday.
Remulla said progress in the case has been hampered by witnesses who suddenly decline to speak out against the suspects despite previously complaining.
“Ang problema nga, nasa ayos na sila, nawala na ‘yung tingin nila na danger sa kanilang mga buhay o kaya ‘yung kanilang takot ay nawala na, ayaw na nilang tumestigo,” he told reporters in a briefing.
[Translation: The problem is after they no longer feel that they are in danger or when their fear is gone, they also don’t want to testify anymore.]
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will likely sue these people for alleged perjury and obstruction of justice, the secretary said.
“Pag pwede na umuwi, gusto mo na umuwi, ayaw mo nang tumestigo… Para saan pa ‘yung ni-rescue natin? Eh kung nagkalabanan diyan at may namatay na pulis, eh ‘di balewala?” Remulla lamented.
[Translation: Now that they’re allowed to go home, they wish to go home and no longer want to testify… Then why did we even rescue them? Had the suspects put up a fight and a police officer died, then it would’ve been all for nothing?]
Over 2,000 workers, including foreigners, were rescued from alleged human traffickers last June 27 in a raid conducted by authorities on Xinchuang Network Technology Inc.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said of those rescued, 1,525 are Filipinos while the others are from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Taiwan, and Singapore, among other countries.
The victims claimed to work for an online casino, with their shift running from noon to midnight. The PNP said the POGO complex has board and lodging, and only a few workers were allowed to leave.
Earlier, Remulla accused the PNP of committing irregularities during the raid as the latter allegedly did not discuss the operation with the DOJ, resulting in a poor case build-up against the suspects. The PNP, however, maintained that it followed standard operating procedures.
Remulla said his department will meet with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group on Friday to discuss the raid, particularly to prevent the supposed lack of coordination between prosecutors and police during similar operations in the future.
