A fugitive Japanese wanted in his country for his alleged involvement in telecommunications fraud has been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday, Nov. 17.
The BI identified the Japanese fugitive as Saito Shimoeda, 25, who was intercepted last Thursday, Nov. 16, by immigration officers at the NAIA Terminal 3 before he could board his flight to Nagoya, Japan.
It said that Shimoeda was found to be in the alert list during departure formalities.
The Japanese is “a subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Tokyo Summary Court for being part of a large-scale telecom fraud group” that has been “victimizing his compatriots while he is overseas,” BI said in a statement.
“Records further revealed that Shimoeda entered the Philippines in 2019 and has since eluded arrest,” it said.
When informed of his inclusion in the alert list, BI said that "Shimoeda resorted to alarming tactics, intentionally bumping his head on the immigration counter and feigning distress.”
Shimoeda has been turned over to the BI's detention facility in Taguig City pending his deportation.
“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,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.
“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 said.