FOREIGN counterparts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have cited the latter’s big help in capturing their citizens who have fled to Manila after becoming fugitives in their own countries amid the new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PNP officers have helped the Fugitive Search Unit of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in tracking down wanted foreign nationals found hiding in Manila and other parts of the country over the years, the latest of them Taiwanese Sie Mu Shi Sie.

The suspect was arrested inside the Eduarosa Tower located on 1700 Roxas Boulevard in Baclaran, Parañaque City past 8 p.m. two Saturdays ago by operatives from the Southern Police District (SPD) and the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr.

The NCRPO chief said records provided to them by the Taiwan Police Attache in Manila Charlie Wu showed the 33-year old suspect is the subject of a warrant of arrest for illegal possession of firearms issued by the Pingtung District Court.

The accused is also being investigated for his alleged involvement in POGO-related offenses in the country.

Maj. Gen. Danao said they have discovered that the suspect was being detained at the Eduarosa Tower by the POGO personnel whom he had a rift prior to his arrest.

The official said officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Felimon Cacap and Lt. Jerome Mingo negotiated with the legal counsel of the Eduarosa Tower in order to get custody of the Taiwanese fugitive.

The suspect was found to have wounds and hematoma on his back when initially examined. He is now undergoing questioning at the PNP-AKG headquarters in Camp Crame, said PNP-AKG director, Brigadier Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas.

Wu said the arrest of the wanted Taiwanese national is a clear example of how Taiwan and Philippine law enforcement authorities can help each other when it comes to arresting suspects in transnational crimes.

“Taiwan can help and Taiwan is helping. Mr. Sie’s case is one example of how we actively cooperate with the PNP and BI to bring criminals behind bars. However, we can and have the willingness to do more if Taiwan can join INTERPOL to share timely criminal intelligence,” the Taiwan police attache told the Journal Group.

“In so doing, our counterparts will be aware of incoming criminals promptly and can stop them at borders. Hence, we would appreciate the support of our Filipino counterparts to help Taiwan in participating in INTERPOL activities,” he added.

Sie was arrested on the same day wanted South Korean national Chungho Lee was caught inside Unit 1117 of Riowest Tower in Azure Residence located at Bgy. Marcelo Green in Parañaque City, said Danao.

Members of the SPD under Brig. Gen. Jimili L. Macaraeg and the Parañaque City Police Station under Col. Maximo F. Sebastian Jr. arrested the suspect on the basis of a warrant of arrest for fraud issued by the Seoul Bukbu District on April 20, 2018.

The Korean is also the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, said the NCRPO director.

The suspect has been turned over to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for proper disposition.

“”I would like to reiterate my constant reminder that Metro Manila is not a hiding place nor a safe haven for wanted persons be it foreigners or locals alike. We are in close partnership and coordination with our foreign and local counterparts to ensure that these law violators are accounted for,” said Maj. Gen. Danao.

The official said he has ordered his men to go after all wanted persons in Metro Manila including foreigners. “This is to guarantee that Metro Manila won’t be a lair of lawless elements regardless of their nationality and status in life,” he said.

Immigration chief, Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said they arrested 83 foreign fugitives wanted in their home countries in 2021 even amid the ongoing pandemic.

Morente, a retired police general, said that South Koreans topped the list of arrested foreign fugitives with 55, followed by Americans at eight, seven Chinese; three Japanese and three Taiwanese.

Many of those arrested were involved in fraud, economic crimes, cybercrimes, and sexual offenses, he said.

The ‘big fishes’ arrested in January 2021 were Lee Honhee and Seo Jungnam, both South Korean nationals.

Lee is wanted in Incheon for an attempted murder case while Seo is being sought for allegedly masterminding an online prostitution ring.

Also arrested in February 2021 were Ivaldi Antonello, an Italian national wanted in his country for a rape case; and Fujita Toshiya, a Japanese wanted for telecommunications fraud.

Last April, South Koreans Jung Myunghun, Yu Daewoong, and Kang Wesung, tagged as among South Korea’s most wanted, were arrested for being leaders of a big-time online scam.

In July, it was the turn of Frenchman Pascal Dider Gillot, wanted for alleged sexual abuse of minors to be arrested. Last September, wanted Taiwanese national Huang Kuan-I who is wanted for attempted murder over the past 17 years was finally hauled to jail.

Another South Korean identified as Lee Jaehun, wanted for being the alleged boss of an illegal online gambling mafia was arrested last December 21.

“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we will not stop until we arrest each and every fugitive who take[s] advantage of the Filipino hospitality to escape their crimes. We will find them, arrest them, and deport them,” Morente said.

Philippine authorities in 2020 also arrested 55 foreign fugitives who have sought refuge in the country, the number much lower than the 420 wanted foreign nationals arrested in 2019 due to the quarantine restrictions brought about by the pandemic.

“There were lesser operations conduc­ted against alien fugitives in 2020 because of quarantine restrictions set in place during the majority of the year. But despite the challenges that the pandemic has brought to us, we still managed to apprehend high profile fugitives wanted for serious offenses by authorities in their home countries,” Morente said.

The wanted foreigners arrested in 2020 have been charge for sex offenses, investment scams, swindling and telecommunication fraud. South Koreans topped the list of those arrested with 26, followed by 10 Japanese nationals, nine Americans and six Chinese nationals.

The BI-FSU headed by Rendel Sy is tasked with arresting foreign fugitives in the country. Most often, the unit relies on the support of the PNP in following-up information from their foreign counterparts and the INTERPOL.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon