42 of 72 Taiwanese nationals to be deported next week

FORTY two of the 72 Taiwanese nationals who were arrested in Davao City are set to be deported starting next week.

According to Davao City Police Director Ronald dela Rosa the first batch of the 72 Taiwanese nationals, composing 42 of them, will be deported on June 8.

Dela Rosa said these 42 Taiwanese were among those who were arrested in a raid at Villa Josefina subdivision in Matina and Ladislawa Village in Buhangin.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) earlier said the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) in the Philippines processed the aliens' plane ticket since they were the ones who requested for the deportation of the foreigners.

Teco also said they were also checking on the availability of their personnel who would escort them to Taiwan.

Joint elements of Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and Taiwanese police arrested 72 Taiwanese and six Chinese nationals in separate raids on their hideouts in the city on April 18.

Twenty-eight were arrested at Villa Josefina subdivision in Matina; 17 at Ladislawa Village in Buhangin, and 33 at Valgonzons Compound on Diversion Road.

But the court ordered the release of the six Chinese nationals since only the 72 Taiwanese had their passports cancelled by their government.

The six Chinese had already left the country on May 1.

Prosecutor Marte Melchor Velasco also dropped the criminal cases against the 72 Taiwanese for lack of evidence.

The foreigners were sued for violating Republic Act 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act), RA 8792, or the Electronic Commerce Act and Illegal Possession of Firearms.