Remulla: Authorities can hold suspects nabbed in Las Piñas raid

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said authorities were allowed to keep detaining the five Chinese human trafficking suspects arrested in Las Piñas even if they had been ordered released.

“Basta merong question sa immigration, hindi sila pwedeng makialam sa Republika ng Pilipinas. Kasi illegal aliens or issue regarding illegal aliens are not covered by any of the other laws,” Remulla said in a media briefing.

(As long as there were questions over immigration, they cannot intervene with the Republic of the Philippines. Because illegal aliens or issues regarding illegal aliens are not covered by any of the other laws.)

He said he only needed to talk to an individual “within the group” to put the issue to rest.

When asked what Immigration laws the five individuals violated, Remulla said they violated their permits with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Last week, Remulla said the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors ordered the suspects released amid further investigations.

The Justice Secretary also slammed the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for supposedly failing to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) before the raid on the compound, leading to a lack of evidence and issues in the filing of cases.

Remulla had met with PNP-ACG Chief Police Brigadier General Sidney Hernia and PAGCOR, during which they discussed the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

“So ang ginawa namin, tinignan namin lahat ng weak points from the experience that we had. So we are making sure that all the weaknesses within all the cases in the past will no longer be there,” Remulla said.

“But of course, we will also be writing a letter to the Supreme Court for certain issues that will meet their guidance and help. So that the procedures necessary to carry out our mandate to stamp out illegal POGOs will be done properly,” he added.

Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said they received preliminary intelligence from PAGCOR that there were alleged illegal activities at the compound unrelated to gambling.

“More of na may mga cybercrimes na nagaganap… preliminary pa rin ‘yung intelligence na binigay sa amin ng PAGCOR. Kasama sa cybercrime, may mga pornography na activities doon at possible din ‘yung scam,” Ty said in a separate interview.

However, he stressed that authorities lacked the necessary evidence to declare that the suspects were part of the operation.

Ty said the prosecutors asked the ACG for more evidence, such as the forensic report of the ACG and more witnesses, to prove that the respondents were involved. — DVM, GMA Integrated News