The Century Peak Tower condemned the recent raid conducted by the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on its premises over alleged online scams, illegal gambling, and human trafficking.
"Century Tower strongly condemns the recent police operations which have caused substantial damage and severely affected its operations and restricted access for all its tenants," said Atty. Baby Perian Arcega, legal counsel for Century Peak Tower, in a statement to reporters on Sunday.
The police operation took place on October 28 under a search warrant issued by a Manila court against a company called Vertex Technology Corporation. Arcega stated that this company has not been located in the building since December 2023.
"We want the public and law enforcement to know that this company has not been in the building since the end of last year. It was a legitimate company with a government-issued license to operate as an Offshore Gaming company," Arcega added.
Additionally, Arcega pointed out that the warrant specified only the 23rd floor of the building, but authorities extended their search up to the 32nd floor.
"It appears they were fed inaccurate or not updated information about this company still being here, which was used to apply for a search warrant. This led to the arrest of 74 or 75 individuals, who were detained for 48 hours before being released without any charges filed against them," she stated.
It can be recalled that the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) recently expressed dissatisfaction with the raid, criticizing the PNP for allegedly failing to consult with both PAOCC and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Meanwhile, PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil defended the operation, stating that the PNP-ACG, in coordination with the NBI, is well-equipped to handle the complexity of this case.
The National Capital Region Police Office has maintained heightened security around the building.
