The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered the deportation of Cao Cheng, the alleged importer of the luxury vehicles owned by couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya who were linked to the multibillion-peso flood control controversy.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau was informed by Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Markus Lacanilao that Cao was arrested on Nov. 27 in Makati for several violations, including obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of a criminal offender, illegal use of alias, false representation, and willful misrepresentation of material information.
Lacanilao said the LTO is also searching for other Chinese nationals connected to ACH Motor Center in Makati City, where Cao is listed as a co-owner.
The LTO has coordinated with the Bureau of Customs to verify whether the company’s high-end vehicles were legally imported.
Viado said documents submitted by the LTO showed that Cao had been using the name “Martin Zhao” in government records. He said the use of a fictitious identity is sufficient grounds for declaring a foreign national undesirable.
“He was found to have fraudulently acquired documentation using a different name, and this is a clear case of misrepresentation,” Viado said. “No foreign national should use fictitious identities in transactions in the Philippines.”
Cao is expected to be transferred to the BI detention facility in Taguig after inquest and medical examination and will be deported, the bureau said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “BI orders car importer linked to Discaya vehicles deported”
