48 foreigners try to flee police lockdown at raided Las Piñas compound

At least eight people were injured when 48 foreign nationals attempted to escape a compound that had been raided by the authorities in Las Piñas City due to an alleged human trafficking situation.

Acting on a tip, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Philippine National Police's Intelligence Group and Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) raided the compound on Alabang-Zapote Road on Tuesday. The site was protected by a complex perimeter fence with barbed wire on top and a high-security outpost at the gate.

Inside was a building that contained the living quarters of supposedly trafficked individuals from Malaysia, Singapore, China and Vietnam.

According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras" on Thursday, the rescued individuals were temporarily banned from leaving the lockdown area while being investigated.

Eight of them were slightly injured as they were trying to escape.

“Baka possible na mga guilty ang mga 'yan kaya gustong tumakas hindi kasi sila pwedeng palabasin kasi hindi pa sila formally turn over with Bureau of Immigration (BI),” said NCRPO Chief Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky.

"Na-check natin ang passport ng iba while the others talagang walang documents, that's why we have coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration to know their real status until know we are waiting for BI authorities," he added.

The police are also reviewing the computers and social media data for the investigation.

Wanky said that some foreign nationals could be charged with human trafficking on Friday.

“Meron namang nakuhang statement, itong mga willing witnesses at victims to testify against etong mga suspect natin, nakita naman natin 'yung subject ng search warrant natin, the respondents I think lahat Chinese lahat,” he said.

“‘Yung mga Filipinos primarily parang hindi sila kasama na mapinpoint natin as suspects so pinrocess natin together with DSWD at PAO lawyers para mabawasan na natin ang nandito because thats 1,993 ‘yun ‘yung paalisin na natin,” said PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group spokesperson Police Captain Michelle Sabino.

Meanwhile, the authorities are looking into the possibility that the people behind this may be an international syndicate operating an online scam.

“It takes time to process kasi yung isang computer lang its hard tapos minsan nakasarado na so paano natin mabubuksan. As far as ACG is concerned na establish natin na may illegal activities online ‘yun nga mga investment scam love scam tsaka crypto-scam,” Sabino said.

Apart from the human trafficking case, cybercrime cases will also be filed against the suspects. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News