A Japanese national wanted in his home country for theft has been arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the agency said Friday.
The BI identified the fugitive as Saito Shimoeda who has an outstanding arrest warrant in Japan for being part of a large-scale telecom fraud group.
According to the BI, the fugitive was arrested as he was boarding an international flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal on Thursday.
“The incident serves as a stern warning to foreign fugitives that the Philippines is not a safe haven for those attempting to escape legal repercussions in their home countries,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.
“We urge foreign nationals to respect Philippine laws and warned that the government is committed to cooperating with international authorities to ensure the swift and just resolution of such cases,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BI said Shimoeda has been placed on its blacklist and classified as an undesirable alien.
He will be detained in the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig pending the implementation of his deportation. —Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
