Foreigner faces deportation for illegal gambling raps

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration will proceed with the deportation proceeding of a foreigner wanted for illegal gambling in his country.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said Tuesday that Takashui Kumamoto, 66, identified as a Japanese national, was arrested last February 23 upon the request of the International Police in Tokyo and the Japanese embassy.

He was arrested at his residence in Barangay (village) Tugatug, Malabon City by elements of the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).

Kumamoto will stand trial before a summary court in Kanazawa City, Japan which issued a warrant for his arrest last December 9.

Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said Kumamoto was charged with operating a gambling scheme at his home in Kaga City, Ishikawa from Oct. 4-6, 2011.

The scheme allegedly involved betting on the results of professional baseball games.

One of the gamblers, who lost nearly 5.7 million yen, allegedly reported Kumamoto’s racket to the authorities, thus resulting in his indictment by the court, Mangrobang added.

BI-FSU head Armelo de Castro, who heads the FSU, said the suspect had been hiding in Manila since November 9 when he arrived as a tourist.

De Castro also revealed that Kumamoto was overstaying at the time of his arrest.