AFTER 16 years, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) was finally able to deport Junichi Inoue, a Japanese who is a fugitive in his country for robbery.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said Inoue’s deportation on May 20 is considered to be a victory for the bureau in view of the many challenges involved in the process.
Inoue had been quarantined at the BI Warden Facility (BIWF) since 1999, when a deportation order was issued against him.
He is considered the longest staying inmate at the BI facility.
Inoue was arrested and quarantined at the BIWF based on Section 37(a)(7) of the Philippine Immigration Act, or for violation of the conditions of his stay.
His passport has been canceled by his home country at the time of his arrest and he subsequently requested for voluntary deportation, which was granted on May 13, 1999.
However, the BI was prevented from implementing the deportation order against Inoue because of criminal cases in several courts—violation of Batas Pambansa 22 (BP22) cases pending before the municipal trial courts of Cainta, Rizal; Biñan, Laguna; San Pedro, Laguna; and Cabanatuan City.
Under BI rules, a foreign national subject of a final deportation order may not be physically deported if he has pending obligations with the Philippine government, especially if the obligation arises from a criminal liability.
“We have endeavored and exerted our best efforts to seek court clearances and expedited resolution of the cases filed before four different courts, which have dragged on for more than 16 years,” Mison pointed out.
“We are glad to have finally deported him to his native country considering that the bureau is not in the business of detaining but of deporting,” Mison added.