The 17 foreigners who were recently arrested over illicit cyber-related activities at a suspected scam hub in Makati City have undergone inquest proceedings, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday.
“They were all, napa ano na natin, napa-inquest na natin and will be charged accordingly,” NBI Director Jaime Santiago said in a press briefing.
(They have undergone inquest and will be charged accordingly.)
Last week, authorities arrested 15 Chinese, a Taiwanese, and a Malaysian during a raid at a five-storey building in Makati City.
The NBI said the Malaysian acted as the supervisor of the team.
According to NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc, the foreign nationals claimed that their passports were with the Bureau of Immigration for visa downgrading.
“If we try to interpret ‘yung sinasabi nila parang working visa pero dina-downgrade na ngayon as tourist,” he said.
(If we try to interpret what they are saying, it’s like they had working visas but these are being downgraded to tourist visas.)
The NBI said photocopies of expired passports were recovered during the operation.
Foreign POGO workers are given until only today, Oct. 15, to downgrade their visas.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) previously warned that foreigners whose visas are forcefully cancelled will be blacklisted.
Meanwhile, authorities also discovered rooms with the sign “Couple Room” meant for foreigners and their partners. Each room had its own restroom and bed.
Lotoc said these are still being investigated.
“In terms of trafficking or other offenses, ongoing ‘yung aming investigation. Actually, it would take time since ang focus namin ngayon na maisampa sa korte ‘yung kaso,” he said.
(In terms of trafficking or other offenses ongoing, our investigation is ongoing. Actually, it would take time since we are focusing on filing the case before the court.)
“After that, kapag ma-collate na namin lahat ng information from different agencies then we can somehow conclude kung saang direksyon at ano pang ibang illicit activities ang involved sa case na ito namin,” he added.
(After that, once we have collated all the information from different agencies then we can somehow conclude which direction and what other illicit activities are involved.)
The foreigners will temporarily remain under NBI custody, according to the bureau. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
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