The Bureau of Immigration has arrested six high-profile fugitives from China who are wanted for economic crimes and for defrauding many of their compatriots of $100 million through an online lottery gaming scam.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the foreigners, three men, and three women, were arrested in Makati and Pasay.
Five of them were arrested inside a condominium at the Circuit Shopping Complex in Carmona, Makati, while one was collared outside Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as he was about to flee the country.
Those arrested were identified as Wang Yaru, Yu Ming Wei, Wei Chunxue, Li Zhi Cheng, Lin Huzi and Zhou Zhongyi. They are now detained at in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending their deportation.
“They will be deported for being undesirable aliens and for being undocumented,” Morente said.
“Their passports were all revoked by the Chinese government. Afterwards, they will be blacklisted and banned from reentering the Philippines.”
The operation was a joint effort of Immigration and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission whose assistance in locating the fugitives was sought by the Chinese government.
“We will continue to strengthen our partnership with our counterparts abroad in going after foreign fugitives who hide in our country to evade prosecution and punishment for their crimes,” Morente said.
BI intelligence officer Bobby Raquepo said the aliens conspired to defraud their victims of nearly US$100 Million by operating a fraudulent mobile application called “fast 3 Lottery” via the Internet.
They all arrived in the country as tourists, he said.