THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the arrest of five more foreign fugitives who will be deported to their homeland to stand trial for their crimes.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the foreigners, including four Indians and a Taiwanese, were arrested in two separate operations conducted by operatives from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).

“These wanted foreigners will be expelled for being undesirable aliens and also for being undocumented as their passports were already canceled by their respective governments,” Tansingco said.

“We will also place them on our blacklist to ban them from re-entering the country.”

Three of the Indians were arrested on March 7 in Iloilo City. They were identified as Manpreet Singh, 23; Amritpal Singh, 24; and Arshdeep Singh, 26.

BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy said the three Indian fugitives are subject to warrants of arrest for charges of murder, violation of Explosive Substances Act 2001, and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967 of India.

Sy said that during the operation, the arresting team chanced upon a certain Amrikh Singh, 33, who was also arrested for failure to present any travel document and is suspected of being an illegal entrant.

Sy also bared that the Indians are being investigated by the government in New Delhi for their alleged ties to an extremist group known as the Khalistan Tiger Force.

Also, last March 7, arrested in Boracay, Aklan, a Taiwanese named Lee He Zhan, 26, is wanted in his country for involvement in illegal drug trading.

A warrant of arrest was reportedly issued against Lee by the district prosecutor’s office in Diaotou, Taiwan where he was charged with violating his country’s narcotics hazard prevention act.

All five aliens have been transferred to the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig, pending deportation. BY JUN I. LEGASPI & HECTOR LAWAS

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Jun I. Legaspi