Chinese suspects in Las Piñas raid submit counter-affidavits

The camp of five Chinese suspects allegedly involved in human trafficking operations in Las Piñas on Wednesday submitted their counter-affidavits before the Department of Justice.

Lawyer Melvin Bermudez, the legal counsel of Li Jiacheng, Xiao Liu, Yan Jiayong, Duan Haozhuan, and LP Hongkun, however, declined to give details.

“With respect sa contents ay hindi ako pwedeng mag bigay ng masyadong information. Ang masasabi ko lang ay nakapag file na kami ng counter-affidavit,” Bermudez said in an ambush interview.

(I can’t give too much information with respect to the contents. All I can say is that we have filed our counter-affidavit.)

“Ayoko naman ma-preempt ‘yung depensa namin (I don’t want to preempt our defense),” he added.

Bermudez said his clients are being accused of human trafficking and violation of the Anti-Cybercrime Act.

According to Bermudez, two of the suspects personally attended the preliminary probe at the DOJ while the remaining three took their oath somewhere else.

Bermudez said they still need to file a supplemental counter-affidavit as the Philippine National Police submitted an additional complaint.

“May additional allegation sila eh. Particularly, ‘yung private complainant mismo. May mga dinagdag lang. At least, if I’m not mistaken, at least, three supplemental complaint-affidavit,” he said.

(They have additional allegations. Particularly, the private complainant. They added something. At least, if I’m not mistaken, at least, three supplemental complaint-affidavit.)

The lawyer said their camp “welcomes” the additional complaints.

“Sasagutin namin lahat ‘yan. Alam naman namin na wala namang ginagawa itong mga taong ito, itong mga clients namin. [We will answer all the complaints. We know that our clients have not done anything.] We entertain additional evidence,” Bermudez said.

He stressed that their clients are also denying all allegations against them.

“Actually, ‘yung involved dito sa PI is not directly accused of violating something. Parang nadamay lang sila,” he said.

(Those involved in this PI are not directly accused of violating something. They were just strung along.)

“Yung iba doon is visitors lang. Yun lang mabibigay ko. Yung invoved dito sa PI, yung iba is visitors lang and from time of raid, yun nga in the wrong place at the wrong time lang talaga sila,” he later added.

(Some of them are just visitors. That’s all I can say. Some of our clients involved in this PI are just visitors and were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.)

When asked if some of their clients were employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, Bermudez declined to comment and advised reporters to “wait for the next preliminary investigation.”

According to Bermudez, the next hearing will be held on August 30.

On June 30, police authorities arrested the five Chinese nationals and rescued almost 3,000 individuals from a Las Piñas compound. 

Authorities said those rescued consisted of 1,534 Filipinos and 1,190 from countries including Malaysia, Singapore, China and Vietnam.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla previously said 1,000 victims are still in the country.

In July, the PNP said another Chinese fugitive was identified as one of the “big bosses” of the company that was raided. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News