Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco announced the arrest of seven fugitives in Las Pinas on Wednesday.
Tansingco shared that fugitives were turned over to the BI’s custody after earlier being arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP). Those arrested were four Chinese nationals and three Taiwanese nationals.
“We recently received information from their country that they are wanted fugitives,” said Tansingco. “Hence a mission order was issued against them and they were arrested for being undesirable aliens,” he added.
The four Chinese nationals were identified as Zhang Quanbao, Song Tianming, Yu Liming, and Liu Jianxin. Meanwhile the three Taiwanese were Li Yi Liang, Huang Hsin-Chiang, and Lin Yue Hong.
Information from authorities revealed that warrants of detention were issued against the Chinese nationals by the Public Security Bureau in China for Contract Fraud, Drug Trafficking, Telecom Fraud and Theft respectively.
Likewise, Taoyuan and Taichung District Prosecutors Office in Taiwan have issued warrants of arrest the Taiwanese fugitives for Fraud and Offenses of Causing Bodily Harm.
The seven all allegedly worked in a fraud syndicate running an online gaming hub in the Philippines. They will remain in the BI Warden Facility in Bicutan, Taguig pending deportation proceedings.
BI warns of new scam circulating online
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued a warning against a new scam circulating online.
In an advisory, Tansingco said that they have received reports of foreign nationals being offered entry visas by agents charging as much as P20,000.
“We have received information that these unscrupulous individuals offer their services in securing visas, and issue orders purportedly coming from the BI,” said Tansingco.
Tansingco shared that the scammers used the logo of the BI, as well as misrepresented themselves as representatives from the Philippine Consulate in Australia.
“The scammers sent an order instructing the applicant to pay via money transfer,” said Tansingco. “That is a major red flag that’s why the applicant reported the incident to us,” he added.
“We have close coordination with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and these kinds of online scams are considered cybercrime,” he warned.
He then appealed to the public to report incidents. “Do not deal with these scammers. If you encounter similar modus online, report it immediately to the BI and other law enforcement agencies,” he stated.
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