NBI Leader Dismantles Specific Squad Due to Suspicious Search Operation
A raid on a resort in Malolos, Bulacan by the NBI's Special Task Force (STF) unit, targeting suspected remnants of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), has been marred by controversy. The NBI Chief, Jaime Santiago, has purged the special unit involved after it was revealed that the search warrant used for the raid deliberately provided a wrong address to mislead the court.
The search warrant indicated an address in "Sta. Rita, Bulacan," which is incorrect as Sta. Rita is in Pampanga, not Bulacan. This led to doubts about the legitimacy of the warrant from the start and suggested intentional deception by the agents involved. The Malolos court, which issued the warrant, had no jurisdiction over the address, raising questions about the raid's legality.
During the raid, nine Chinese nationals, including two students of a posh university in Manila City pursuing their master's degrees, were arrested. Among the minors present was Mia, a 9-year-old Grade 3 student from China. Ken, a 13-year-old relative of Mia, was in a different room during the raid. An armed man kicked the door open and ordered them to get down on the ground with their hands behind their backs.
Ken's personal belongings, including laptops, cellphones, jewelry, passports, and other identification documents, were taken during the raid. Mia was taken to another room and left alone. The resort's security cameras were cut off during the raid.
Lily, Mia's mother, was spared from arrest during the raid and was left to look after the minors. Ken's father and other adult relatives were handcuffed during the raid. The nine arrested individuals were turned over by the NBI to the Bureau of Immigration over claims that they were undocumented.
Santiago believes the STF unit deliberately provided the wrong address to mislead the court. He did not rule out the possibility that the raid could have been motivated by money. Santiago is angry at the alleged corruption involving the misleading of the court.
The STF unit was created to investigate and operate on special cases, including remnants of POGOs and scam farms. However, this incident has cast a shadow over its operations and integrity. China's Ministry of Education issued a warning for students planning to pursue education in the Philippines on July 18, citing recent instability and a surge in crimes targeting Chinese nationals.
The NBI Director has ordered the dismantling of the Special Task Force (STF) unit due to alleged irregularities during the raid. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law and maintaining the integrity of law enforcement agencies.
- The incorrect address provided in the search warrant used for the raid on a resort in Malolos, Bulacan, raised questions about the jurisdiction of the Malolos court and the legitimacy of the warrant.
- Nine Chinese nationals, including two students pursuing their master's degrees in Manila City, were arrested during the raid, and among them was a 9-year-old Grade 3 student named Mia.
- Santiago, the NBI Chief, ordered the dismantling of the Special Task Force (STF) unit due to alleged irregularities during the raid, and he believes the STF intentionally provided the wrong address to mislead the court.
- In response to the incident, China's Ministry of Education issued a warning for students planning to pursue education in the Philippines, citing recent instability and a surge in crimes targeting Chinese nationals.
