By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday announced the deportation of two Japanese nationals who were earlier arrested for being fugitives from justice.
In a statement on Friday, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Hoshino Takuya, 24, and Kunio Aihara, 62, who were arrested in separate operations conducted by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in April and June, were deported via Japan Airlines flight bound for Tokyo on Oct. 16.
He added that their names have also been included in the BI’s blacklist, permanently barring them from reentering the country.
Takuya was apprehended last April 22 in Las Piñas City after the Japanese government reported him as a wanted criminal.
He is reportedly a member of the notorious “Luffy” gang and is accused of stealing ATM cards and targeting elderly victims by impersonating law enforcement officers. He and his cohorts allegedly staged fake police investigations to deceive victims into surrendering their bank cards.
Aihara, on the other hand, was arrested on June 3 following information from Japanese authorities that he is wanted in Tokyo for robbery resulting in injury, in violation of the Japanese Penal Code. He was accused of conspiring with accomplices to rob and physically assault a victim three decades ago.
The group allegedly stole the victim’s wallet containing about 700,000 yen in cash. The assault caused multiple injuries requiring several weeks of medical treatment.
The BI chief lauded the FSU for its successful coordination with Japanese authorities, noting that the operation reflects the government’s resolve to uphold national security and the rule of law.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to the President’s directive to rid the Philippines of foreign fugitives. The BI continues to work closely with our international counterparts to ensure that the country does not become a refuge for criminals evading justice,” Viado said.
Meanwhile, another suspected fake Filipino was arrested recently in Butuan City.
Jianting Chen, 47, who went by the alias Kenneth Tan, was arrested by BI regional intelligence operations unit 11 and 13 in Barangay Bading last Oct. 9.
During the arrest, agents found Chen together with a female companion later identified as his wife, in a restaurant in the area. Upon checking, Chen presented his passport and retiree’s visa card bearing his Chinese name.
It was found that he also had a driver’s license issued by the Land Transportation Office and a Philippine Statistics Authority birth certificate using his Filipino identity, which he admitted to have acquired for his business registration papers and bank accounts, in violation of Philippine immigration laws.
His wife, on the other hand, was not found to have violated immigration laws.
Chen is temporarily detained in Davao and will face deportation proceedings for misrepresenting himself as a Filipino.
The operation against him was coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Army, Butuan City Police Station and government intelligence forces. (PNA)
