THE 43 Taiwanese nationals arrested for alleged online fraud operations in Cebu City were brought yesterday to Clark, Pampanga for deportation on Tuesday.
They have been freed from any criminal liabilities in the Philippines but will face trial in their country, according to Supt. Rex Derilo of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 7.
“It was withdrawn because we cannot deport them if they have an existing case in the country,” Derilo said in a phone interview.
The Taiwanese nationals are part of the 69 foreign nationals caught by an inter-agency raid on houses inside a few subdivisions in Cebu City for alleged online extortion last Sept. 8.
The arrested suspects allegedly belong to a large-scale syndicate that victimizes Taiwanese and Chinese businessmen.
Meanwhile, their 26 Chinese companions remain guarded by operatives of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 and RID 7 in random houses in the city while the investigation of the Chinese consulate on them has yet to be done.
The Chinese nationals were also not yet freed from the charges filed against them in the country but it may lead to that soon, according to Derilo.
The Taiwanese nationals are currently being housed at the Philippine Immigration Academy in Pampanga.
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison earlier approved a deportation order for the Taiwanese nationals, leading to the turnover of their custody from the police to the immigration bureau.
“Wala man puy aggrieved party diri sa Pilipinas, pero naa ra didto so it would be deemed proper nga adto sila moatubang sa kaso (There is no aggrieved party in the Philippines, so it is deemed proper for them to face charges there),” said PRO 7 acting directorial staff chief Rey Lyndon Lawas.