17 suspects in human trafficking case in Lapu-Lapu city…

A TOTAL of 17 people involved in the Lapu-Lapu City scam hub, who were charged with human trafficking, will be returned to Cebu on Thursday, October 3, 2024 for arraignment.

During a press conference in Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, October 1, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 Director Rennan Augustus Oliva told reporters that a planned arraignment before Branch 73 of the court regional trial of Lapu-Lapu city would begin on Thursday.

“On October 3, the case will be brought before the Regional Trial Court of Lapu-Lapu City, so the arrested persons, currently detained at the office of the Presidential Commission for Combating Organized Crime (PAOCC), will be flown to Cebu must undergo arraignment,” Oliva said.

Among those who will be flown to Cebu are 13 Chinese nationals, two Indonesians, one from Myanmar and one Filipino, all of whom are currently facing charges of aggravated human trafficking.

Zandrew Cantarona, the only Filipino involved, became complicit in the crime by attempting to transport more than 50 passports belonging to the rescued Indonesian nationals.

Oliva said in a previous SunStar Cebu report that in collaboration with the PAOCC, authorities will ensure the safety of the accused and witnesses during court proceedings.

To recall, on August 31, a joint team of several law enforcement agencies first conducted a rescue operation but later discovered that the Tourist Garden Hotel complex in Barangay Agus was running illegal scams.

The investigation subsequently resulted in charges of violating immigration laws against the 169 foreign nationals who are currently detained at the PAOCC headquarters in Pasay City.

Authorities are preparing to file money laundering charges against the parties involved in the attempted smuggling of 8.2 million pesos in cash by a hotel employee in September. (DPC)