5 Chinese suspects in Las Piñas raid seek more time to file counter-affidavits

The camp of the five Chinese suspects allegedly involved in human trafficking operations in Las Piñas on Wednesday filed a motion seeking to extend the deadline for the submission of their counter-affidavits, according to their lawyer.

Lawyer Melvin Bermudez, the legal counsel of Li Jiacheng, Xiao Liu, Yan Jiayong, Duan Haozhuan, and LP Hongkun, said the prosecution granted his motion and set the next hearing on August 9.

“Imbis na next week, sinabi ko baka pwede August 9… so grinant naman ng fiscal,” he said in an ambush interview following a preliminary probe at the Department of Justice.

(Instead of next week, I suggested setting it on August 9… and this was granted by the fiscal.)

Bermudez said he and his fellow lawyers are having difficulty talking with their clients.

“Aside from the fact na nakadating yung mga kliyente natin napakahirap interviewhin, napaka hirap i-prepare nung counter affidavits, meron din tayong language barrier. So kailangan natin ng interpreter, eh hindi naman sa lahat ng oras eh available ‘yung interpreter natin,” he said.

[Aside from the fact that we are experiencing difficulties in interviewing our clients, in preparing their counter-affidavits, we also have language barrier. So we need an interpreter, and the interpreter is not always available.]

On June 30, police authorities arrested the five Chinese nationals and rescued almost 3,000 individuals from a Las Piñas compound.

Remulla previously said only around 1,000 of those rescued remain in the country.

According to Bermudez, the motion will also give them time to peruse the additional 60 affidavits submitted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Merong 10 affidavits from arresting officers, meron din from seizing officers, ‘yung mga kumuha ng ebidensya, allegedly, and nung mga recording, nag record during the alleged raid. So ‘yun ‘yung mga sinabmit nila,” Bermudez said.

(There are 10 affidavits from arresting officers, there were also from seizing officers, the one who gathered the evidence, and the ones who recorded the alleged raid. So they submitted these.)

Bermudez said the PNP officers also swore and testified before the prosecutors.

“Tapos may sinabmit sila na isang affidavit nung Filipina na based din naman sa preliminary investigation is for me, mababaw yung testimonya niya,” he added.

(They also submitted the affidavit of a Filipino that, for me, based on the preliminary investigation, is also shallow.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News