279 Taiwanese deported for cybercrimes

Taiwanese, suspected of being members of a fraud syndicate, wave from the window of their bus as they arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Wednesday. About 279 Taiwanese were deported following their arrest for alleged online fraud. One died while others began falling ill in crowded makeshift detention facilities, officials said. AP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday deported 279 Taiwanese nationals arrested last month in simultaneous raids in various places in Metro Manila and Rizal for involvement in cybercrimes.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the aliens were deported aboard two chartered flights of the China Airlines and Eva Air that left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 6:30 a.m.

They were brought to the airport on buses that fetched them from the Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Laguna, where they were detained since their arrest last Aug. 23.

The aliens were deported based on the findings of the BI board of commissioners last Sept. 7 that they  were “undocumented, overstaying and undesirable aliens” and for being “serious threats to the general welfare and public policy.”  They were also placed in the immigration blacklist.

Immigration records showed that the deportees were among the 291 Taiwanese and 87 Chinese nationals arrested by joint police, naval and immigration intelligence operatives in Quezon City, Marikina City, and Antipolo and Cainta in Rizal province.   Also arrested were two suspected financiers of a gang involved in credit card fraud and human smuggling in Taiwan and China.

Immigration acting intelligence chief lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said the 87 Chinese nationals will be deported within the week. The other 10 Taiwanese are still detained in the country due to pending cases in court.

The aliens were deported even if their base of operation is the Philippines because their victims are in China and Taiwan, Mangrobang said.