Officials of the Ayala Alabang Village and barangay in Muntinlupa are protesting the raid conducted by Philippine immigration and police, and the Korean Embassy inside the exclusive subdivision Saturday night.
In a statement issued on Sept. 19, the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) and Barangay Ayala Alabang (BAA) said at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18, “an armed operation took place in a residential unit in San Enrique Street in alleged pursuit of a Korean fugitive.”
They said the authorities introduced themselves as members of the Bureau of Immigration Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU), Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and the Korean Embassy.
The authorities entered Ayala Alabang Village through the Madrigal Gate, the subdivision’s main gate, aboard vehicles.
“During the operation, shots were fired which alarmed some residents,” the AAVA and BAA added.
The raiding team showed a warrant of deportation to barangay and AAVA officials who confronted the authorities “for the lack of prior coordination with the local police authorities, the Barangay Ayala Alabang (BAA), and the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA).”
“BAA and AAVA officials decried the authorities' complete disregard of the autonomy of the Barangay and the security protocols set by AAVA,” according to the statement.
According to AAVA and BAA, they “will send a letter to BI-FSU in light of the recent incident, clearly stating that while the effort of their agency to capture criminals is appreciated, security protocols of the village must still be followed and coordination with local authorities must be sought.”
“The individual being pursued by the authorities was already captured and in their custody. There was no mention in the search warrant as to the person in pursuit is a resident of the village. AAVA will conduct further investigation on this matter,” the village officials said.
They added, “BAA and AAVA assure all residents that this incident will be thoroughly investigated.”