Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla is set to meet with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko on Tuesday, Jan. 31, to discuss the cases of 17 Japanese nationals in custody of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Remulla said the discussion will also tackle the case of Yuki Watanabe, also known as “Luffy,” the suspected leader of the group behind a string of robberies in Japan including one that resulted in the death of a 90-year-old woman in Tokyo.
But Remulla said he does not know if Watanabe is the same person who has been tagged as the leader of the robbery ring.
“It’s only the Japanese police who can identify the person because the crimes happened in Japan,” he explained.
He assured that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will cooperate with the Japanese government concerning the Japanese nationals in BI custody.
He said that “if there are no cases pending then we will immediately deport.”
“If there are cases pending against them that are preventing deportation, we will investigate these cases if they are real cases or contrived cases or cases put up to prevent deportation,” he assured.
He said he was informed that Watanabe has a pending case before the Pasay City regional trial court (RTC) involving alleged violence against women and children (VAWC).
The BI had earlier said that Watanabe was arrested by the bureau on April 19, 2021 based on a BI mission order.
It said the Watanabe is the subject of a summary deportation of the BI dated May 28, 2021 for being an illegal entrant and a fugitive from justice since he is the subject of an Interpol blue notice.
TAGS: #DOJ #BI #’Luffy’ #Sec. Remulla