35 foreign fugitives arrested since Jan.–BI
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that 35 foreign fugitives wanted for various crimes in their countries have been arrested since the start of the year.
Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. in a statement Wednesday said the alien fugitives were arrested from January to July in separate operations conducted by operatives of the BI fugitive search unit (FSU).
FSU is a specialized unit under the BI intelligence division with the exclusive task of running after foreign fugitives who have been hiding in the country to evade prosecution for crimes committed in their homelands.
Immigration records show that of the 35 arrested since January, 25 have been deported and were either being tried or were now serving sentences in their countries.
“The remaining 10 fugitives detained at the BI jail in Taguig will be expelled as soon as the bureau obtains the required court and police clearances for their deportation,” David said.
“The Philippines is not a sanctuary for wanted criminals,” he said.
A report submitted by FSU head Uso Dan Salasim to BI Intelligence Chief Ma. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang showed that Americans topped the list of arrested fugitives with 17.
Also in the list are six Koreans, four Japanese, three Chinese, two Germans, a Taiwanese, a Norwegian, and an Australian.
They have been charged with varying serious offenses including sexual assault, rape, child molestation, fraud, robbery with kidnapping, gun possession, and illegal drugs.
Mangrobang said all 35 alien fugitives have been blacklisted and banned from re-entering the country.
