THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has started deportation proceedings against a group of 44 foreign nationals allegedly involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities, particularly victimizing high-roller foreign casino players in the country.
BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente ordered the bureau’s legal division to initiate deportation proceedings against the 42 Chinese and two Malaysian nationals who are also facing kidnapping charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Under immigration rules, the arrested foreigners would be formally charged with violations of the Immigration Act and summoned by the BI for preliminary investigation.
Morente said all 44 and another cohort who remains at large would be deported back to their respective countries for being undesirable aliens and for violating the conditions of their stay as tourists. “This is to ensure these foreign criminals do not get the chance to go free even if they are allowed to post bail by the court. Technically, they will be under our custody after we have charged them for immigration-law violation,” the BI chief said.
Morente, however, clarified the foreigners would be deported only after the criminal proceedings against them are completed and after they have served the sentences if found guilty by court.
“We will only deport them after they are convicted and have served their sentences,” he said. Bobby Raquepo, acting chief of the BI fugitive search unit (FSU), said the arrested foreigners are members of a syndicate responsible for kidnapping several foreign casino players in recent months.
“Our initial investigation revealed that all of them entered the country as tourists, although four of the Chinese suspects have no record of travel to the Philippines,” he said. The 44 suspects were arrested by joint operatives of the BI FSU and the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group during the raid on July 18 where a Singaporean victim identified as Wu Yan was also rescued.
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Guarantee the govt + police are co-conspirator in this kidnap for ransom like they are with abusayyaf. These 44 people will get off.