Filipino fugitive apprehended in Thailand, deported
The accused, Evan Jessie y Yorong Sabilla also known as Eddie Jessie Sabilla of Bataan, Davao de Oro —Photo courtesy of Philippine Embassy Office of the Police Attaché
BANGKOK, Thailand — The Interpol issued a Red Notice for circulation on February 5, 2025 for the arrest of Evan Jessie y Yorong Sabilla also known as Eddie Jessie Sabilla of Bataan in Davao de Oro. Sabilla faces charges of syndicated estafa, as defined and penalized under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1689. The case involves defrauding complainants of more than P77 million worth of products between March to May 2023.
Sabilla, in conspiracy with his cohorts, acted in a syndicated manner to willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously defraud private complainants. Despite knowing that their bank account was either closed or had insufficient funds, they proceeded with the fraudulent transactions. The case was filed in the Philippines on August 9, 2024.
According to the Interpol Red Notice, Sabilla acted as a financial manager of a company selling products obtained below the suggested retail price, as well as managing the financial operations and supported other respondents in defrauding the complainants.
Colonel Dominador Matalang, the Philippine Embassy’s Police Attache in Thailand, stated that Sabilla had been working as a singer in Phuket, a popular resort town in Thailand. It is unclear how long he had been in the country. Before his arrest, Sabilla traveled to Bangkok, then spent a few days in Hong Kong. He was scheduled to travel to Singapore, but his flight had a stopover in Bangkok. Interpol alerted the Royal Thai Immigration Police and Singapore Immigration authorities. Upon his arrival in Singapore, he was informed by Singaporean authorities of the Interpol Red Notice and his fugitive status.
Police Lt. Colonel Jaturong Thongphunlordkul, Deputy Superintendent of Interpol Bangkok, along with the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police and Immigration Bureau, facilitated Sabilla’s deportation. He was flown back to Thailand on March 1 and is scheduled for deportation to the Philippines in the early morning of March 2, 2025, via Cebu Pacific flight 5J 932. Upon arrival, he will be turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Sabilla will not be handcuffed and is treated as ordinary passenger. He will be escorted to his assigned seat,” Colonel Matalang says.
Matalang also explains that Sabilla cannot be detained in Thailand because the warrant of arrest in the Philippines cannot be served in other countries.
The arrest of Sabilla is through the collaboration between National Central Bureau NCB) Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila implementing the Interpol “Operation Maharlika.”
