China seeks deportation of 17 nationals

CHINA has asked the Philippines for the immediate deportation of 17 Chinese fugitives who were collared early this week in Makati City, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the 17 Chinese nationals were wanted for internet fraud and cybercrimes in China.

He said the arresting Immigration agents stumbled upon the fugitives, 15 of them women, inside their condominium units in a day-long operation conducted at the Manhattan Square compound along San Agustin Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City last Monday.

The Chinese embassy earlier sought the BI’s help in capturing the fugitives who fled to Manila to evade arrest by Chinese authorities.

“All of them could not present their passports and travel documents, thus we will deport them for being undocumented and overstaying aliens,” David said.

Those arrested were identified as Cai Hong Ji, Mei Li, Huan Huan Yu, Si Meng Liu, Jiang Yang, Wenjie Yan, Ruicen Yuan, Zhi Ying He, Ning Zahang, Qian Shi, Liu Jan Wen, Chen Yan Ling, Peng Yuan Yuan, Ling Min Zhang, Zhou Xiao Yun, Chen Qing E, and Guo Yan.

Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said BI operatives conducted intensive surveillance on the foreigners’ safehouse for several days before they were arrested.

Mangrobang said the Chinese embassy’s police attaché confirmed that those arrested are fugitives allegedly involved in cybercrimes who preyed on their Chinese victims by operating a clandestine call center in their residence.

Mangrobang said the Chinese embassy sought the immediate deportation of the fugitives so they could face criminal prosecution in China.

The aliens were subsequently charged with violating our immigration law and they will be deported them after the BI board of commissioners issues the order for their summary deportation. (SDR)