Legal representatives of Xinhuang Network Technologies are demanding that the Philippine National Police allow medical treatment for the 13 or more foreigners who were allegedly injured after being taken into police custody on 29 June.
In a letter dated 1 July, the Vargas Law Office said that they received reports that the foreigners were injured during a commotion while in police custody at the compound of Xinhuang in Las Piñas City.
Lawyer Ananias Christian Vargas said that one of the foreigners reportedly suffered a gunshot wound and that others have serious physical injuries. He claimed that the police have refused to allow an ambulance to transport the injured to a hospital.
PNP public affairs office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan denied the allegations of police brutality and said that the PNP observes human rights.
He said that more than 1,500 of the 2,700 rescued workers had already been released, but that foreigners remain in the area as they are still being processed in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration.
“As a matter of policy, in every police operation, observance of human rights is paramount. Hence, Human Rights Affairs desks had been put up to ensure that the basic rights of the rescued victims are respected and protected at all times,” Maranan said.
“Rest assured that the PNP’s aggressive and honest law enforcement operations are at all times conforming with the rule of law,” he added.
The PNP said that the Las Piñas operations are part of the anti-human trafficking campaign in relation to violations of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
It also said that it has filed criminal charges against five Chinese nationals before the Department of Justice in relation to the raid of seven POGO establishments in Las Piñas City early this week.
The raid led to the “rescue” of more than 2,700 alleged POGO workers, around 1,500 of them Filipinos, while the rest are foreigners, mostly from countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has issued a show-cause order to the representative of Xinchuang on why its certificate of accreditation and authority to operate should not be canceled.
Pagcor also ordered Xinhuang to cease and desist from all offshore gaming activities pending the completion of the PNP investigation on its alleged criminal activities.
Seized during the raid were computer units, SIM cards, cellular phones, and passports that wil be subjected to forensic investigation.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco, meanwhile, reiterated the state-run agency’s stand against illegal activities that are being linked to offshore gaming.
“We condemn all criminal activities that violate Philippine laws and human rights — regardless of nationality. As we have always said, PAGCOR will not hesitate to impose sanctions on erring licensees and accredited service providers,” Tengco said.
“Similarly, we will continue to cooperate with our partner law enforcement agencies to ensure that responsible and regulated gaming is observed,” he said.