A group of 102 Filipino workers, who were victims of a human trafficking scheme by Chinese nationals, has now been cleared of charges of unlawful possession of illegally manufactured cigarettes and related paraphernalia nearly two years after their arrest.

Tan Briones and Associates (TBA), a Quezon City-based law firm and counsel for the 47 accused Masbateños (Masbate 47), successfully secured the acquittal after Presiding Judge Roselyn C. Andrada-Borja of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 53 in Rosales, Pangasinan granted the demurrer to evidence filed by the defense.

In her 24-page Joint Resolution dated June 25, 2025, Judge Andrada-Borja ordered the release of all 102 detainees, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Victims turned accused

According to TBA’s lead counsel Atty. Renfred Tan, the accused workers—who hail from various provinces including Masbate (47), Negros (28), and Bulacan (27)—were victims of a Chinese human trafficking scheme.

Based on the Filipino workers’ testimonies, they were allegedly lured with promises of legitimate factory and construction jobs in Rosales, Pangasinan, with offers of P500 daily wages and free meals.

However, upon their arrival at the facility, the workers found themselves forcibly confined and compelled to work in a clandestine cigarette manufacturing facility using fake BIR stamps.

On November 28, 2023, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Strike Team and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) conducted a joint raid that led to the apprehension of the 102 Filipino workers along with several Chinese nationals.

Following the raid, it was the 102 Filipino workers who faced detention and trial, as the implicated Chinese employers jumped bail, leaving the workers, who were merely victims of circumstances, to bear the brunt of the legal proceedings.

Based on court records, a certain ‘Wu Niko’ was named as the principal accused in four counts of unlawful possession of fake BIR stamps and other paraphernalia being used for the production of spurious cigarettes. Meanwhile the 27 associates, who are also Chinese nationals, and the 102 Filipinos were listed as conspirators. 

The Chinese nationals posted bail in a separate RTC branch but failed to appear for arraignment before Judge Andrada-Borja on January 8, 2024 and have since remained fugitives.

As for the Filipino workers, 64 of them were able to post bail, while 38 remained in detention until the court dismissed the charges against them.

Securing the acquittal

TBA, counsel for the defense of the Masbate victims, argued that the prosecution’s evidence was inadmissible due to fundamental legal flaws. 

Among its primary arguments upheld by RTC Branch 53 were the violation of the accused’s constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizure, and the prosecution’s blatant failure to comply with established chain of custody rules for the seized evidence. The court’s agreement with these arguments effectively rendered the prosecution’s case without legal basis.

Atty. Tan shared that their defense hinged on the fact that the BIR and CIDG raid on the factory premises was conducted without a valid search warrant, a key procedural lapse highlighted in the case. This foundational error ultimately compromised the evidence gathered which sustained their demurrer. 

TBA highlighted in its motion to dismiss that a prosecution witness admitted under cross-examination that the inclusion of the 102 workers in the complaint was merely “based on assumption” because they were present during the raid.

In the resolution issued by the court, the judge emphasized the prosecution’s failure to establish that “the search and seizure conducted by the joint operatives of the BIR and CIDG was based on a valid search warrant nor that the same falls under any of the exceptions.”

The judge underscored that while the BIR has the authority to make arrests and seizures for violations of penal laws and regulations, such authority remains subservient to the people’s constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures under Section 2, Article III of the 1987 Constitution.

Furthermore, the judge noted that law enforcers failed to comply with the chain of custody rule, which compromised the integrity of the seized evidence and rendered it inadmissible in court.

“To emphasize, the prosecution bears the burden of proving the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt in order to sustain a conviction of the accused. This rule places upon the prosecution the task of establishing the guilt of an accused, relying on the strength of its own evidence, and not banking on the weakness of the defense of an accused,” the resolution wrote.

Reflecting on the court’s verdict, Atty. Tan remarked, “This decision cuts through the injustice these Filipinos endured. It’s a powerful step towards restoring the rights of our fellow countrymen who were exploited and victimized, especially by foreign nationals. It also sends a clear message that due process and constitutional rights must always be upheld, and that these victims of human trafficking should not be subjected to further injustice.” 

“Justice at last, not only for our 47 Masbateño clients, but for all the 102 Filipinos who were duped into thinking they had secured lawful jobs from Chinese recruiters, only to find themselves jailed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Atty. Tan also stated.

Atty. Tan said that those acquitted workers from Masbate are now contemplating on filing criminal charges against the Chinese nationals who recruited them in the illegal factory operation. 

“We will continue to support these individuals in seeking full accountability for those who exploited them,” Atty. Tan added.

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