5 suspects in Las Piñas POGO raid deny raps

MANILA, Philippines — Five Chinese accused of trafficking over 2,700 workers rescued during a raid on a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Las Piñas yesterday denied the allegations against them before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Lawyer Melvin Bermudez said he filed on behalf of his clients Li Jiacheng, Xiao Liu, Yan Jiayong, Duan Haozhuan and LP Hongkun a counter-affidavit to the human trafficking and cybercrime charges filed by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG).

While Bermudez did not disclose the contents of their counter-affidavits, he said they denied involvement in illicit activities. He claimed that most of them were merely visitors who happened to be at the POGO headquarters “at the wrong time.”

“The preliminary investigation today pushed through and we were able to submit a counter-affidavit. However, another hearing will be conducted on Aug. 30 because the police filed additional, supplemental complaint affidavits,” Bermudez told reporters.

He said the charges were related to his clients’ alleged violation of Philippine immigration laws, but did not expound except to add that they would file counter-affidavits to the new complaints on Aug. 30.

‘Big boss’

Bermudez said he found it curious that police were pressing charges against his clients but “pointing to a certain big boss that they can’t seem to name as of now.”

He noted that based on the complaints, the PNP does “not directly mention any of our clients (as the big boss). So they’re referring to someone else. It’s just up to the prosecutor how he will resolve the complaint.”

Last June 27, over 2,700 people from 17 different countries, including the Philippines, were rescued from a POGO firm in Las Piñas. They were suspected to have been victims of human trafficking.

Filipino rescues have been sent home while hundreds of other foreigners have been released after being granted their writ of habeas corpus petitions. About 600 remain in Bureau of Immigration custody, according to the DOJ.

The DOJ is in the process of suing the four Las Piñas trial court judges that granted the petitions without a “colatilla” or excuse to release foreigners unless they are being held for other purposes.