Organ Harvesting cell in Quezon City

Organ Harvesting cell in Caloocan

Organ harvesting cell in Manila

Organ Harvesting cell in Taguig City

Before I begin this chapter, I would like to briefly discuss the city of Manila, primarily to explain why the city is so important to the Filipino people and why it has become so infested with organ harvesting rings in the first place.

Manila is the capital and chief city of the Philippines. The city is the center of the country’s economic, political, social, and cultural activity. It is located on the island of Luzon and spreads along the eastern shore of Manila Bay at the mouth of the Pasig River. The city’s name, originally Maynilad, is derived from that of the nilad plant, a flowering shrub adapted to marshy conditions, which once grew profusely along the banks of the river; the name was shortened first to Maynila and then to its present form. In 1975, by presidential decree, Manila and its contiguous cities and municipalities were integrated to function as a single administrative region, known as Metropolitan Manila (also called the National Capital Region); the Manila city proper encompasses only a small proportion of that area.

Manila has been the principal city of the Philippines for over four centuries and is the center of its industrial development, as well as the country’s primary international port of entry. It is situated on one of the finest sheltered harbors of the Pacific region, about 700 miles (1,100 km) southeast of Hong Kong. The city has undergone rapid economic development since its destruction in World War II and subsequent rebuilding. Measures have been taken, however, to ameliorate those problems. Area city, 15 square miles (38 square km); National Capital Region, 244 square miles (633 square km). Pop. (2015) city, 1,780,148; (2020) National Capital Region, 13,484,462.

The city is bisected by the Pasig River. It is divided into six administrative divisions that comprise 17 districts. Most of the districts developed from the original fortress city of Intramuros (“Within Walls”) and the 13 villages located outside its walls. About two-thirds of the districts lie to the north of the river and the remaining third lies to the south. The two sections of the city are connected by several bridges.

Although business areas are widespread, the districts to the north of the river—especially along the bay and in the city’s west-central region— constitute the chief centers of trade and commerce. The district of San Miguel is the site of Malacañang Palace, the presidential residence, and several universities are located in Sampaloc, on the northeastern edge of the city. Adjacent to the heavily populated districts on the northern shore is Manila North Harbor; Manila South Harbor, the leading international port, is on the southern coast. Intramuros is renowned for its 16th-century San Agustin church as well as for the ruins of its old walls and of Fort Santiago. On the south shore, Ermita and Malate are popular residential districts, as well as the sites of numerous hotels and embassies. The districts to the southeast are generally middle-income residential areas.

Metropolitan Manila includes the cities of Manila, Caloocan City to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, and Pasay City (located near the shore of Manila Bay) to the south, and 13 municipalities. The municipalities include Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Navotas, Pasig, Pateros, Parañaque, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Taguig, and Valenzuela. Metropolitan Manila played a central role in the planning for simultaneous and unified development.

The city has a chronic housing shortage, and the government has constructed tenement housing projects to help house the poor. A landmark—if ultimately unsuccessful—project undertaken from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s was the Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Services (BLISS), initiated by the governor of Metropolitan Manila. To provide homes for squatters, the government also developed resettlement projects in and around Manila that are easily accessible by land and motor transportation.

Residential buildings include the single-family dwelling; the duplex for two independent households; the accessoria, whose dwelling units have individual entrances from the outside; the apartment building with common entrance; and the barong-barong, a makeshift shack built of salvaged materials (flattened tin cans, scrap lumber, cartons, or billboards) that is common in the poor areas.

Metropolitan Manila is densely populated and contains a significant proportion of the country’s population. This concentration of people has been brought about by a constant migration from rural to urban areas. The strain on municipal services has had a negative impact on the quality of life in the metropolitan area. Consequently, various government policies and resettlement projects have been implemented to address the problem of population density.

Manila experiences high crime rates due to a combination of factors including rapid urbanization, poverty, inadequate law enforcement, and corruption. The concentration of people in urban areas, coupled with limited resources and opportunities, can lead to increased crime rates. Additionally, issues within the criminal justice system, such as corruption and a lack of resources for law enforcement, contribute to the problem. 

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Rapid Urbanization and Poverty: Manila has seen a massive influx of people from rural areas seeking better opportunities, leading to overcrowded conditions and strain on resources. This rapid growth often outpaces the ability of the city to provide adequate housing, jobs, and social services, creating an environment where crime can flourish. 
• Weak Law Enforcement: Police and other law enforcement agencies face challenges in effectively controlling crime. There are reports of corruption and involvement in illegal activities, which undermines public trust and weakens law enforcement’s ability to address crime. 
• Corruption: Corruption within the criminal justice system, including the police, judiciary, and prisons, can hinder efforts to prosecute criminals and deter crime. Corruption can also create opportunities for criminals to operate with impunity. 
• Organized Crime: Organized crime syndicates play a significant role in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal gambling. These groups often operate with impunity due to weak law enforcement and corruption. 
• Lack of Opportunities: Limited economic opportunities, particularly for young people, can drive some individuals to engage in criminal activities as a means of survival or to gain access to resources. 
• Social Factors: High levels of inequality, poverty, and lack of access to education and healthcare can also contribute to crime. These social factors can create a sense of desperation and disenfranchisement, leading some individuals to resort to crime. 

Finally, the time had arrived to wrap up, taking out the remaining cells. The three teams were all synced and working smoothly. Each of the men knew their assignments. Each of the team leaders, Devon, Thomas, and Andres, all felt comfortable that when the time came to pull the hammer, their team members would not flinch and would do what was needed. They were tired of the rising crime levels in their country, and they wanted to make a difference; this mission was a step in the right direction.

Andres contacted Donald Adriano to arrange for three Jeepneys and reliable drivers to meet at their staging area, the J. Ruiz Station in San Juan City, Metro Manila, at the prescribed time. It was a busy area with bustling traffic related to the tram, so nobody would take notice of three Jeepneys and several vehicles loading and off-loading men and gear. It was also just about in the center of the four cells that they were going to attack. In case of an emergency, they could always take the tram to escape.

J. Ruiz Station

Since Devon was going to hit two locations, they loaded him up first, and he left while the other two teams transferred their gear from the vans that they were using to transport their gear.

Devon and his team made their first strike on the Quezon City cell at 1:00 AM. The structure they were going to take was a two-story stucco building with a front and rear entrance. The stairwell to the second floor was likely in the front of the building, so Devon (Hitman) and Alain would take the front. Umed would set the charge on the front door first, and then, accompanied by Raul, would set the charge on the back door. Once the charges were synced and ready, Umed would make the call via their comms for the assault. Devon would actually have the final say so before he fired the remote detonator. Once the charges went off, there was no turning back. Raul would act as a backup for Alain on the second floor.

Devon counted on Mark one, two, and three and triggered the explosive charges. There was a dull-sounding thud as both reinforced steel doors crumpled like aluminum foil. Each man rushed to their appointed sectors, clearing out any resistance with ruthless efficiency. There were a total of eight cell members present, with no prisoners taken. They found a teenage female body tied to a bed on the second floor, who died from asphyxiation and overzealous sexual abuse. To protect some modicum of decency, Raul quickly covered up her nude body. When the building was all cleared, all four men said a short prayer over the body and then hurriedly left the building.

Romy, their Jeepney driver, assisted the men as they loaded their gear back into the jeepney in preparation for their second strike in Caloocan. Devon told the team as they made their way towards their second destination that he would notify the police about finding the young girl’s body. Hopefully, some family would soon find closure.

The second building they were going to assault looked like an abandoned machine shop. It was a three-story cement or stucco structure with a large open bay that had, at some point, had a roll-up door. From their previous surveillance, it appeared that the first floor was unused. However, Raul was assigned to conduct a quick sweep in case there were any nasty surprises; he was also going to monitor the entrance to the second floor from the open bay for any possible escapees. Devon opted to utilize the outside exit to gain entrance to the second and third floors. He was sure that there was a stairwell to the third floor on the inside, but its exact location was unknown, just like the stairwell in the open bay. They couldn’t see it in their previous surveillance; they just knew there had to be one present. If Devon had learned anything in all of his missions, that was to go with what you know and not with what you think you know. It was, of course, Umed’s job to set charges on both the second and third-story doors. Since there was only one stairwell, the order in which the men went up it was important. It was surmised, based on previous experiences, that the third floor would be the least inhabited (no one likes to climb stairs, especially two flights of stairs), so Umed would be first on the stairwell to set the charges and second to clear the third floor. Devon would be second and would lead the assault on the 2nd floor, followed by Alain. If he were not needed on the second floor by Devon, he would immediately go to the third floor to assist Umed.

When all was set, Devon triggered the explosive devices, and the doors imploded inward. Like clockwork, the team members advanced into the open bay and up the stairwell. Raul, as it turns out, had to take out two escapees from the second floor. Devon was briefly overwhelmed by several cell members scurrying around like startled rats. It was a veritable turkey shoot as he and Alain emptied their handguns into the cell members. All told, they took out seven members on that floor alone. Umed, as they correctly conjectured, met with less resistance, though not by much; he still had to take out four cell members, some in a state of undress. By the time Alain had finished helping Devon, he was no longer needed on the third floor. On the final count, they took out 13 cell members. This was their biggest hit so far, with two more cells to go. But Devon’s work was done. Because the building was isolated and nobody appeared to have heard the gunfire, he instructed his team to see if there was any intelligence that they could collect that might help them clean up this syndicate more effectively.

By the time they had finished trashing the place, they had collected a laptop computer and two sacks of loose papers, of which they would have to sort through at a later date. They had done enough, so they doused the structure with gasoline and set up several flares and beat a hasty retreat. As they made their way back to the J. Ruiz Station, Devon kept his promise and reported the body of the young female that they had found. He did not mention the other bodies that were there as well. Let them figure it out.

Now that Devon’s job is done, let’s see how Thomas (Jazz) and his team are faring. Thomas’s team comprised Eugine Esguerra, the explosives expert, and Stefan Espanol and Oracle Custodio. The last two were highly trained, retired special forces officers. While this building was only two stories tall, it was by far the largest structure that the team would have assaulted, and because it was located in the largest city in the Philippines, it would also likely have housed the most cell members. So Thomas’s team would have to be on their toes if they wanted this mission to be successful. There were two points of access, one in the front and the second in the back of the building. There was a chained and locked front gate that led to the front entrance. They, of course, would have to cut that lock before Eugine could set a shaped charge on the front door. After setting this charge, he would then proceed to the back door, where he would set the charge. Afterwards, he would lead the assault into the back of the building. Oracle would follow him. It was Oracle’s job to find a way up to the second floor and to dispatch the members there along with Stefan, who would gain access to the second floor from the front of the building, if possible. Thomas would lead the attack on the first floor with Eugine acting as the mop-up man. Gaining access to the second floor would be somewhat problematic because they were unable to obtain information on the location of the stairwell, whether it was the front of the building or the back. Sometimes you just have to wing it, and hope that the element of surprise and the use of overwhelming force is enough to overcome the lack of actionable intel. Secretly, Thomas believed that due to the size of the building there would be two stairwells.

Give that man a cigar, he was right. There were two stairwells, and both Oracle and Stefan were able to clear out the second floor. It was a good thing because there were eight cell members on that floor, and for a brief moment, it was nip and tuck about which side was going to come out on top. Ultimately, superior training prevailed. The first floor only had six cell members plus one very irritable woman, whom they gagged and bound with zip ties. Eugine and Thomas had no difficulty in dispatching the six cell members. When they cleared the building, Thomas instructed Oracle and Stefan to carry their bound and gagged prisoner to the waiting Jeepney. Thomas and Eugine did a quick sweep to see if they could find any documents. On the second floor, they found an open briefcase with papers scattered around it on a large desk, along with a laptop computer and several cell phones. They collected all of this intel and brought it out to the Jeepney. The four men then poured accelerant all over the building and set it on fire with flares as they left in the Jeepney. They dumped their captive female, who they would later find out was named Maria Alfaro (her name means Sea of Bitterness, how appropriate), in front of a closed police department, with a note pinned to her jacket. She was a real piece of work and was responsible for the deaths of several people. Too bad they didn’t know this before; they could have taken her out as well.

Last but not least, we are ready to tell Andres’ (Ashtray) Team story. They had the unenviable task of dropping off poor frozen Octavio at the Taguig City cell, along with his comrades. This structure would involve a series of two separate explosions, while one person could do the job, it was easier for two members to do the job. So, Jed Pamplona, Andres’ explosive expert, would blow the charge at the back entrance, while Andres would blow not only the charge on the front gate simultaneously but would then set a second charge seconds later on the front door. Quasim Bernales would follow behind Jed and would search for the quickest access to the second floor, while Alejandro Viray would do the same, following behind Andres. It was suspected that the stairwell was in the front of the house, but the previous surveillance had been unable to determine its exact location. Whoever found the stairwell first would inform the other team member via comms where it was, so that team member could go up and assist in clearing that floor. There was a front second-story porch; however, it was protected by wrought iron bars. The house did not appear to be very large, so that once the breach was completed, clearing it of all of its cell members would not take very long.

As it turns out, the entrance was in the front of the house, and despite Quasim entering from the back due to the delay of firing the second charge, he reached the stairwell before Alejandro did. Then it was a race to see who drew first blood. There were only three cell members on the second floor, two who were engaging in unholy congress and were both taken out by Alejandro, and the other one was taken out by Quasim. Thomas and Jeb each took out two of the final four cell members. Once they were finished, Theo Enriquez, the Jeepney driver, helped Alejandro carry Octavio into the entrance way of the first floor, where he put two rounds in his body, one in his chest and the second in his forehead. The house was too close to the adjacent buildings, so they conducted a quick sweep to ensure nothing incriminating was left behind, and they quickly left the house and drove off in their Jeepney.

After the three teams returned to their staging area, Andres paid off the Jeepney drivers and then handed each member of the Setting Moon Agency team who had helped them $5,000 USD in an envelope. They all thanked Devon, Thomas, and Andres as they left the staging area in their conveyances. Thomas, Devon, and Andres sorted out all the gear and put their equipment back into their van and left the newly acquired gear in the second van, which they locked up and left at the station as had been previously arranged. The Roman Catholic Church’s influence only went so far. When they were done, they had the daunting task of reviewing all the intelligence they had collected.