MANILA, Philippines—More than 40 “undesirable aliens,” including an alleged member of the notorious terror group Al-Qaeda, were deported back to their native countries since January this year, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison announced on Wednesday that the 44 fugitives who were deported in January and February this year violated several immigration laws, by either overstaying, working without visas and permits, being undocumented and being convicted of crimes.
“The successful deportation of these illegal aliens was the result of marathon hearings conducted by the bureau’s legal division particularly the prosecution and legal assistance unit,” said Mison.
The fugitives were arrested late in 2013 by BI operatives in coordination with foreign embassies and the local law enforcement by virtue of mission orders and warrants of deportation, he added.
A suspected member of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group, Indonesian Agus Dwikarna was deported early January after serving his 10-year sentence for violation of illegal possession of improvised explosives, grenades and firearms, he noted.
Mison disclosed that since Dwikarna was a security risk, the Indonesian Embassy issued him a passport so he could be brought back to his country. A chartered plane with private escorts from Indonesia fetched Dwikarna at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Dwikarna was arrested in March 2002 while attempting to board a flight at NAIA. Authorities discovered bomb-making equipment in his suitcase.
Over the weekend, 49-year-old Japanese fugitive Dobashi Masatoshi, an undocumented alien since July 1995, was also sent back to his country along with other deportees Ryota Ozeki, Masayuki Ozeki, Yushinori Makino, Ijie Makino, and Susumu Yoshimura.
At least six American fugitives accused of rape and child molestation in their homeland have also been deported late January, reported Mison. Among them were Glenn Allan Machlan and Philip Vaugh Cox, who were arrested last month at the US Embassy in Manila and La Union, respectively.
The BI also deported a certain Frank Bernard McCright alias Clarence Alvin Davis; Donald Lloyd Warren; Richard Michael Chartier; and Rommel Rabara, all were accused of rape in the US.
The six Americans were banned from returning to the Philippines as a result of their inclusion in the immigration blacklist, according to the bureau.
Records from the bureau’s legal division on deportation implementation unit also showed that five Korean nationals, nine Indian nationals, two Taiwanese, a Dutch and one each from Malaysia, Canada, Egypt, Sweden and Sudan have also been expelled from the country in the first two months of 2014.
RELATED STORIES
Philippines deports Indonesian who had bomb parts
Chinese, Korean deported; more aliens eyed