Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 intercepted a Japanese national wanted in his home country for theft.
The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Saito Shimoeda, was attempting to flee the country on a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Nagoya, Japan, on November 16.
According to a report by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the suspect, who has evaded authorities since 2019, was said to be working as a fraudulent caller for a criminal group victimizing his compatriots while he is overseas.
BI staff started to become suspicious of Shimoeda after it was revealed that he was on the bureau’s “alert list” during departure formalities.
It was then that the suspect began to “intentionally” bump his head on the immigration counter and feign distress.
However, his diversionary tactics failed to distract the BI on-duty supervisor, who then confirmed that Shimoeda is a subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Tokyo Summary Court for being part of a large-scale telecom fraud group.
“The incident serves as a stern warning to foreign fugitives that the Philippines is not a safe haven for those attempting to escape legal repercussions in their home countries,” Tansingco added.
The arrested fugitive was placed in the blacklist and is now classified as an undesirable alien by Philippine immigration. He is now held at the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig pending implementation of his deportation.
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