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.”