Remulla: Chinese suspects nabbed in Las Piñas raid ordered released due to lack of evidence

The five Chinese suspects allegedly involved in human trafficking operations that were arrested during a police raid in Las Piñas City have been ordered released pending further investigation, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday.

In a media briefing, Remulla slammed the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for supposedly failing to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) before conducting the raid.

“Manghuhuli pero walang kaso. Ano, magtatanim ka ng kaso? Hindi puwede sa DOJ. Hindi kami papayag diyan [Arresting people without cases. What, cases will be invented? The DOJ will not agree to that],” Remulla said.

According to Remulla, many pending cases could not be filed due to lack of evidence.

When asked about the supposed blunders of the PNP-ACG, he said the policemen did not cite specific acts or specific grounds to arrest the said individuals.

“Basta raid lang, raid, ganon… Pumasok lang sila. Parang nangingisda [They just raided… they just entered the premises. As if they were fishing],” he said.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the PNP but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

On June 30, the five Chinese nationals identified as Li Jiacheng, alias Li Jiachang, Xiao Liu, alias Xiao Lin, Yan Jiayong, alias Pan Wen Jie, Duan Haozhuan, and LP Hongkun, alias Li Yang, underwent inquest proceedings at the DOJ.

They were arrested after police authorities rescued almost 3,000 individuals from a compound in the city. Of this, 1,534 were Filipinos and 1,190 were from Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Vietnam.

According to Remulla, around 1,000 victims are still in the country.

He said all the Filipinos have returned home while they are processing the cancelation of the visas of the other victims.

“Yan ang problema kapag ayaw kasi makinig eh. Sinasabi na namin na mag-usap muna tayo bago kayo kikilos tapos gusto nila file kami ng file ng kaso kahit wala kaming ebidensya. Hindi namin gagawin yun,” he said.

(This is the problem when people refuse to listen. We’ve said that we should first coordinate before acting and now they want us to file a case even without evidence. We will not do that.)

Remulla said he has yet to talk with PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. as he had just returned to work following his bypass surgery, but expressed that he wants to. —KBK/NB, GMA Integrated News