Raided Bataan firm to file motion to quash warrant; employee to press charges | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

Raided Bataan firm to file motion to quash warrant; employee to press charges

Raided Bataan firm to file motion to quash warrant; employee to press charges

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Clipboard

MANILA — The Malaysian-owned company raided by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) in late October is set to file a motion to quash the search warrant, as it denies allegations of human trafficking and operating as a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) or under an Internet Gaming License (IGL), its legal counsel said Sunday.

In a media forum, lawyer Cherry Anne Dela Cruz of Central One Bataan PH, said the motion would be filed before a Malolos court in Bulacan on Monday.

The company seeks to regain access to its facility and the equipment seized by the operatives in a bid to resume operations as a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm.

“Mahigit isang linggo na po ‘yong lumipas since it happened, wala pa pong isinasampang kaso sa Central One. In fact, mauuna na nga po kami na magpa-file ng motion to quash po sa korte kasi obvious naman po na mayroong violations na nangyari,” Dela Cruz said.

ADVERTISEMENT

(It has been more than a week since it happened and no case has been filed against Central One yet. In fact, we will be the first to file a motion to quash in court because it is obvious that violations have occurred.)

“Lisensya ang kinukuwestiyon niyo… may nangyaring deceit sa pagkuha niyo ng search warrant under the premise na mayroong human trafficking,” she added.

(You are questioning the license... there was deceit in the way you obtained the search warrant under the premise that there was human trafficking.)

Relieved PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio earlier claimed that the suspected POGO hub was allegedly involved in human trafficking, scamming, and other illegal activities.

Dela Cruz denied the accusations, asserting that the company is a legitimate BPO, not a POGO or IGL. She did, however, acknowledge that some of their clients are foreign gaming companies involved in sports betting.

“’Yong One Central is a BPO. Mayroon po kaming lisensya,” Dela Cruz told reporters. “Hindi po kami POGO, hindi kami gambling operator.”

(One Central is a BPO. We have a license... We are not a POGO, we are not a gambling operator.)

“From the result of the search, wala talagang human trafficking na sinasabi nila, wala din pong scams, wala din pong gaming, wala rin ‘yong mga ina-annouce nila na mga torture chamber, wala din ‘yong mga devices na cloning devices,” she added.

(From the result of the search, there was no human trafficking as they claimed, no scams, no gaming, no torture chambers as they announced and no cloning devices.)

Dela Cruz said the company employs 1,600 people, of whom 41 are foreign nationals, including one Chinese national.

This contradicts earlier reports that stated the company had 300 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese and Malaysians.

Slander, physical injury

Dela Cruz said the company will also provide assistance to its utility worker who was slapped by Casio, helping him file a slander case as well as a separate physical injury case, claiming he was also punched by another high-ranking official.

Casio has been relieved from his post and ordered to explain his alleged mistreatment of the worker. Footage of the incident has been circulating on social media.

The charges are expected to be filed in a Bagac court on Monday afternoon.

“We’re still trying to get a CCTV footage of how it happened na pinagsusuntok din siya sa tagiliran,” Dela Cruz said.

(We're still trying to get the CCTV footage of what happened, where he was also being punched in the side.)

In an earlier media interview, Casio admitted that his actions were wrong and said he's “willing to face the music.”

ABS-CBN News reached out to Casio and PAOOC Undersecretary Gilberto Cruz to comment on One Central’s fresh statements.

RELATED VIDEO



ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.