FORTY-SIX Chinese identified as “fugitives” were arrested in Makati and Muntinlupa cities and were undergoing deportation proceedings for alleged economic crimes in Beijing, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said that the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) caught the foreigners undertaking cyber fraud in call centers.

“We received information from the Chinese authorities that these fugitives are hiding in the Philippines,” Morente said, referring to the Chinese Embassy in Manila.





“We immediately conducted our investigation upon receipt of information, and discovered that there were more fugitives involved conducting their illegal activities,” he added.

The BI said that 30 of the foreigners were arrested in three different residential condominium buildings in Makati, while 16 others were arrested in a follow-up operation in a house on Tanuan Street, Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa.

“Further coordination with the Chinese embassy in Manila later revealed that the arrested nationals are all wanted fugitives in China for involvement in economic crimes,” BI intelligence officer and FSU chief Bobby Raquepo said.

“It seems like they attempted to transfer their operations in the country,” he added.

Many of those arrested were undocumented aliens as their passports were canceled by the Chinese government, Raquepo added.

Dana Krizia Sandoval, BI spokesman, said the Chinese fugitives were awaiting deportation orders for “violating the Philippine Immigration Act.”

Raquepo said the Chinese fugitives will be sent back to China soon “so they can be tried for their crimes, and will be blacklisted and banned from reentering the Philippines.”

The bureau chief warned anew fugitives who are using the country as a hideout.

“Do not use the Philippines to hide from justice. Those [foreign fugitives] hiding in the country will be caught,” Morente added.