The firm in Las Piñas City that got raided responded by filing an ejectment case against the Philippine National Police (PNP), according to a news report by GMA Network. Take note that this is the same firm that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) ordered to be shut down and there were foreign fugitives among those found during the raid (click here and here).
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
A firm that was involved in a police raid in Las Piñas City filed an ejectment case against the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday over their alleged continued stay at the compound.
“We filed the case because PNP had been continuously occupying the compound which is a private property, even after the expiration of the search warrants on July 7, 2023,” Christian Vargas, the legal counsel of the Xinchuang Network Technology, told GMA News Online.
Vargas said this is a “dangerous practice” and is a violation of the company’s constitutional right as it is being deprived of its property without due process.
“The duty of the PNP is to uphold and enforce the law and not take the law into its own hands. Nakakatakot ito kasi maari itong maging precedent in taking possession of a private property by our authorities by virtue of a search warrant,” he said.
(The duty of the PNP is to uphold and enforce the law and not take the law into its own hands. This is scary because this may set the precedent in taking possession of private property by our authorities by virtue of a search warrant.)
According to Vargas, Xinchuang sent several demand letters to police authorities asking them to vacate the premises, but they refused.
“They refused to leave the premises and instead made use of the same as their detention and holding facility for the foreigners still detained inside,” he said.
Vargas said the case was filed before a Las Piñas metropolitan trial court and will be raffled off.
GMA News Online has sought comment from the PNP but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.
On June 27, authorities implemented a search warrant over an alleged human trafficking situation in the compound. Police reported that 1,534 Filipinos and 1,190 foreigners were rescued.
Vargas has denied allegations of human trafficking or illegal activities taking place at Xhinchuang. He said that the business of the company is legitimate.
Court grants writ of habeas corpus
Meanwhile, the Las Piñas regional trial court granted the petition of the suspects arrested during the raid to be removed from state custody, according to a “24 Oras” report by Saleema Refran.
“Ang sinabi ng korte sa kanyang order is that their detention, continued detention inside the compound is illegal and the police as well as all the other agencies which are there have no reason for them to be detained inside,” Vergara said.
(The court said in their order that their detention, their continued detention inside the compound is illegal, and the police as well as all the other agencies which are there have no reason for them to be detained inside.)
According to the lawyer, the foreign nationals will remain in the country to face their charges. The hearings for the writ of habeas corpus they filed are scheduled for next week.
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) respects the court decision but said the “granting of the habeas corpus doesn’t necessarily follow that the case we have against these suspects is dismissed”.
“We respect the court’s decision. The granting of the habeas corpus doesn’t necessarily follow that the case we have against these suspects is dismissed. We will continue to fight until justice is served,” PNP-ACG Spokesperson Police Captain Michelle Sabino.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the PNP is at fault with regards to occupying the premises of the raided business? Do you think human trafficking really happened?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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