Gatchalian wants inquiry into human trafficking, scamming activities inside Multinational Village

Senator Win Gatchalian wants to investigate human trafficking and scamming allegedly being undertaken within the Multinational Village in Paranaque.

"There is a need to determine the lapses and loopholes in government processes and national security that led to increased crimes mostly involving foreign nationals, which poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Filipino citizens," Gatchalian said, as he filed proposed Senate Resolution 1032.

According to him, his office received a letter dated May 8, 2024, from a group of homeowners at Multinational, in which they appealed to national security authorities to conduct an inquiry over the alleged growing population of suspicious-looking foreign nationals in their community.

These homeowners claim that inside Multinational is a place called "City Garden", an enclave exclusively populated by foreign nationals, wherein at least 50 foreigners are crammed inside rented housing units.

Gatchalian also cited a recent raid of a residence inside the village, specifically located at 18 Tejeran Street, which resulted in the capture of 10 Chinese nationals allegedly engaged in scamming activities such as love and cryptocurrency scams. A Filipino bodyguard was also arrested for possession of an undocumented .45 caliber pistol.

The arrested foreign nationals are suspected to be fugitives from an earlier raid of a large gaming compound in Bamban, Tarlac that took place in March this year. The raid, intended to combat illegal online gambling and other illicit activities, was conducted on alleged violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; RA 562, also known as Alien Registration Act of 1950; and RA 10175, also known as Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

According to the senator, "it will be a great disservice to the people, as well as dereliction of duty in international treaties and conventions to which the Philippines is a signatory or a member of if the government fails to protect its citizens from the serious illegal activities prevailing within a gated village."

Gatchalian gustong imbestigahan ang human trafficking, kung anu-anong scam na galing sa loob ng Multinational Village

Nais ni Senador Win Gatchalian na imbestigahan ang human trafficking at mga online scamming activities na sinasabing nangyayari at nagmumula sa loob mismo ng Multinational Village sa Parañaque.

"Kailangang matukoy ang mga lapses at butas sa mga proseso sa gobyerno at pambansang seguridad na humantong sa pagtaas ng bilang ng krimen na kadalasang kinasasangkutan ng mga dayuhan. Ang mga ito ay nagdudulot ng malubhang banta sa seguridad at kaligtasan ng mga mamamayang Pilipino," sabi ni Gatchalian, kasunod ng paghain niya ng Senate Proposed Senate Resolution No. 1032.

Ayon sa kanya, nakatanggap ang kanyang opisina ng sulat na may petsang Mayo 8, 2024, mula sa isang grupo ng homeowners sa Multinational Village, kung saan umaapela sila sa mga awtoridad para sa kanilang seguridad at magsagawa ng imbestigasyon sa sinasabi nilang lumalaking populasyon ng mga kahina-hinalang dayuhan sa kanilang komunidad.

Ayon sa mga homeowners na ito, mayroong isang lugar sa loob ng naturang subdibisyon na tinatawag na "City Garden", isang enclave na eksklusibong pinupuntahan at tinitirhan ng mga dayuhan, kung saan hindi bababa sa 50 dayuhan ang nagsisiksikan sa loob ng mga inuupahang unit ng pabahay dito.

Kamakailan lang ay sinalakay ang isang bahay sa 18 Tejeran Street sa loob ng subdibisyon at nahuli ang 10 Chinese nationals na umano'y nagsasagawa ng mga aktibidad ng pang-iiscam, tulad ng love at cryptocurrency scam. Arestado rin ang isang bodyguard na Pinoy dahil sa kanyang undocumented .45 caliber pistol.

Ang mga naarestong dayuhan ay hinihinalang mga pugante mula sa naunang ni-raid na POGO compound sa Bamban, Tarlac noong nakaraang Marso. Isinagawa ang nasabing raid dahil sa umanoy paglabag ng kumpanya sa Republic Act 9208 o ang Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; RA 562, kilala rin bilang Alien Registration Act of 1950; at RA 10175, na kilala rin bilang Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Ayon sa senador, "magiging isang malaking kapinsalaan sa mga tao at pagwawalang-bahala sa tungkulin batay sa mga internasyonal na kasunduan at mga kumbensyon na nilagdaan o kung saan miyembro ang Pilipinas kung hindi po-protektahan ng pamahalaan ang mga mamamayan nito mula sa mga iligal na mga aktibidad na umiiral sa loob ng isang gated village."