The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the transfer to the National Capital Region (NCR) the qualified trafficking in persons case filed against several foreign nationals who were arrested during the raid of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac.
In a press statement, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said transferred by the SC was the case filed before the Capas regional trial court (RTC) in Tarlac against Ma The Pong, Wang Weili, Lang Xu, and several other accused.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said the SC granted his request to transfer the case in Tarlac to any RTC in the NCR.
"I commend the SC for their unwavering commitment to safeguard the laws of the land in order to avoid the miscarriage of justice. The DOJ vows that we will prosecute these cases with burning resolve and integrity," Remulla said.
The filing of the qualified human trafficking case was a result of the March 13 raid of Zun Yuan Technology, a POGO in Bamban town, where several foreign nationals were arrested.
“In a letter dated 22 April 2024 addressed to the Honorable Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Secretary Remulla urged the High Court to transfer to Metro Manila criminal case numbers 9855-9857 (PP vs Ma The Pong, Wang Weili, Lang Xu et. al) which are handled by the RTC of Capas, Tarlac,” the DOJ said.
“The Secretary cited the pressing need to safeguard national interest and ensure fairness in the justice system considering these high profile cases exceed local boundaries which affect national security and general policies,” it said.
It also said that Remulla pointed out to the SC “the importance of preserving the integrity of trial proceedings by preventing possible local biases or undue influences thereto with the utilization of a neutral venue along with the court's blessing.”
Also, in connection with the raid of the Bamban POGO, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) filed last June 21 before the DOJ a qualified trafficking in persons complaint against dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice L. Guo and several others.
DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty announced last Friday, Sept. 13, that a panel of prosecutors has issued a resolution approving the filing in court of a non-bailable qualified trafficking in persons against Guo and other respondents in the complaint involving the operation of the Bamban POGO.
“Aside from Guo, others to be charged in court are her business partners including Huang Zhiyang, the foreign national identified as the ‘boss of all bosses’ of illegal Pogos by the PAOCC and a sitting Philippine Senator,” the DOJ said.
It said that under the laws, “individuals who organize an establishment engaged in human trafficking may be held accountable for human trafficking despite not having direct participation in criminal activities such as torture, rape, forced labor. and other related acts.”