BATAAN, Philippines – Officials of Central One Bataan, the facility inside the freeport zone in Bagac, Bataan raided last month by law enforcers, denied allegations that it was involved in human trafficking and illegal activities and said that it has taken legal steps against that incident.

In a press briefing held Wednesday, November 13, at the provincial government’s Tourism Pavillon in Balanga, Bataan, Central One said it has filed a motion to quash the search warrant used in the October 31 raid. This means it is asking the court to declare that warrant, and therefore that raid, as invalid.

Aside from Central One officials, also present in that briefing were representatives of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Philippine National Police and the Bataan provincial government led by Governor Joet Garcia.

Central One legal counsel, Cherry Ann Dela Cruz, said that they operate legally within the framework set by the AFAB, which issued them a gaming license.

However, Dela Cruz said, Central One operates strictly as a business process outsourcing (BPO) company and not as a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGOs). 

Joseph Lobo, senior offshore gaming officer in the Policy Research Division of PAGCOR’s Offshore Gaming Licensing Department, said their agency has no authority over Central One. He said Malacañang’s Executive Order 13 outlined the jurisdiction over online gaming by PAGCOR, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), and AFAB. Because it is located inside the Bataan freeport, Central One falls under AFAB.

Dela Cruz also refuted claims that foreign nationals at Central One were victims of trafficking, stating that all the foreign workers were legally employed with valid alien employment permits and visas.

The raid was conducted under the premise of investigating human trafficking, leading to the arrest of 42 foreign nationals, including an Indonesian, Handoyo Salman, and three Malaysians.

Salman is wanted by the Indonesian National Police for allegedly distributing or transmitting electronic information and documents related to gambling and money laundering, according to data obtained by Rappler. 

The three Malaysians, whose names were withheld to protect their privacy, traveled to the Philippines to work after being penalized in their home country for offenses related to fraud and illegal gambling operations.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Dana Sandoval told Rappler on November 4 that it was the respective governments of these foreign nationals which informed the BI of their “fugitive status” upon learning that these persons were in the Philippines.

The BI, on November 7, ordered the release of 41 foreign workers on recognizance, turning them over to Bataan 2nd District Representative Albert Garcia, who will be their guarantor.

Dela Cruz said she and Congressman Garcia took responsibility for the welfare of the 41 foreign nationals excluding Salman.

“Hindi sila nakalabas, hindi namin sila pinyansahan kung wala kaming lehitimong dahilan para payagan mag piyansa. Especially in this case na sinasabi nilang rescued. Kung rescued sila, bakit niyo sila ikukulong? Inako namin ni Congressman Albert yung responsibilidad na pangalagaan yung 41 foreign nationals,” Dela Cruz said.

(They didn’t get out, we didn’t bail them out if we didn’t have a legitimate reason to allow bail. Especially in this case that they say rescued. If they were rescued, why would you imprison them? Congressman Albert and I assumed the responsibility of taking care of the 41 foreign nationals.)

“Ang recognizance kasi inaako yung responsibilidad na siguraduhin na hindi makakatakas, hindi makakatakbo, hindi makakagawa ng ano mang krimen, anything. You take full responsibility for them. So hindi ito intervention, hindi nag intervene si Congressman Albert. Nag recognizance kami. As much as I want to do the recognizance myself, kinakailangan may politician or officers of government na would aid me in the recognizance. Pinakiusap ko yun kay Cong Abet dahil naniniwala kaming illegal. Hindi sila nirescue, hindi sila biktima,” Dela Cruz added.

(The recognizance was for taking responsibility to make sure that they can’t escape, they can’t run, they can’t commit any crime, anything. You take full responsibility for them. So this is not an intervention, Congressman Albert did not intervene. We had recognizance. As much as I want to do the recognizance myself, there must be a politician or officers of government who would aid me in the recognizance. I begged Congressman Albert for that because we believe it is illegal. They are not rescued, they are not victims.)

Meanwhile Governor Garcia presented 12 Central One employees who claimed they were mistreated by law enforcement officers during the raid conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Philippine National Police Special Action Force, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

The governor said that while they are still reviewing the issues, several employees have already sought assistance from the public attorney’s office (PAO) including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

On November 5, PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio was suspended after he was seen in a CCTV footage slapping a Filipino worker during the raid. He later issued a public apology.

Garcia said Central One was a legitimate BPO. He said that when they inspected the facility in June, they were provided with clarification not only from the management but also from the workers. –Rappler.com