FIVE Chinese nationals accused of operating a cybercrime ring in Las Piñas City where nearly 3,000 workers including over 1,000 other Asian nationals were rescued by agents of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, have been charged with violation of the country’s anti-cybercrime laws, officials said yesterday.

Li Jicheng alias Li Jiachang, Xiao Liu alias Xiao Lin, Yan Jiayong alias Pan Wen Jie, Duan Hozhuan and LP Hongkun alias Li Yang were charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The five were subjected to inquest proceedings by the PNP-ACG before the Department of Justice on Friday.

Other respondents in the case were one Quiha Lu, Liangfei Chen, Jimmy Lin, Abbey Ng and the other owners/maintainers/facilitators/managers of Building C of Xinhuang Network Techonology as well as the company incorporators identified as Danica Andres Mensah, Oliver Ong, Divin Trillanes Vidal and Daisy Vidal Cidro.

The accused were the subject of a Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data and a search warrant for violations of RA 9208 and RA 10175 issued by Las Piñas City Executive Judge Elizabet Yu-Guray.

In a statement, PNP Public Information Office chief Brigadier General Redrico A. Maranan said that early morning Saturday, the PNP deployed 299 police operatives from the PNP-ACG and the National Capital Region Police Office to continue the search in the raided facility.

The official said that PNP investigators are getting the personal profiles of the remaining 1,284 rescued foreign online workers in connection with the implementation of two Search Warrants and five Warrants to search, and seize computer data issued by National Capital the two search warrants on seven buildings located at No. 501 Alabang-Zapote Road, Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City.

“At the outset, we would like to emphasize that this operation is legitimate, and was carried out on orders of a competent court. The judge issued the warrants after she had personally examined the complainants, and witnesses through a personal searching inquiry. And that she was convinced by the applicant and the pieces of evidence presented before her. Based on existing laws, no search warrant shall be issued except when there is a probable cause,” said Brig. Gen. Maranan.

He also explained that as a matter of policy, in every police operation, observance of human rights is paramount. Hence, a Human Rights Affairs desks was put up, manned by human rights affairs officers to ensure that the basic rights of the rescued victims are respected and protected at all times.

Further, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also assisted by providing food packs for the rescued victims.

Based on the latest accounting, all rescued Filipinos were already allowed to go home. However, there are still remaining 1,284 foreigners that include 687 Chinese, 186 Vietnamese, 140 Indonesians, 135 Malaysians, 83 Thais, 18 Taiwanese, eight Nigerians, five Singaporeans, eight Burmese, two Yemenis, two Pakistanis, two Chad, an Ivorian, a Tunisian, an Arabian and one each from India, Somalia, Sudan, Cameroon, and Iran who are being assisted by their respective embassy officials.

“We would like also to clarify that these rescued victims are being processed to get their personal profiles, travel history and status for documentation purposes prior to turn over to their respective embassies. Rest assured that the PNP’s aggressive and honest law enforcement operations are at all times conforming with the rule of law,” the official added.

Last Tuesday, PNP-ACG agents under Brig. Gen. Sydney S. Hernia, backed by police commandos rescued the workers from more than a dozen Asian and African counties found working for a cybercrime ring based in Las Piñas City.

Hernia said that the suspected Trafficking in Persons or TIP victims were found in seven buildings of the Xinchuang Network Techonology, formerly known as ‘Hongtai’ building although a check of the company’s registration papers showed they only have some 100 employees.