A Japanese fugitive wanted in his country for engaging in alleged scams has been arrested in Makati City and will be deported immediately, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday, Feb. 9.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado identified the Japanese fugitive as Eiji Shigematsu, 48 years old.
Aside from deportation, Viado said that Shigematsu will also be blacklisted to prevent his return to the Philippines.
Shigematsu's arrest was requested by the Japanese government, the BI said. He was arrested last Feb. 7 along Ayala Avenue in Makati City by operatives of the BI's Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU).
Based on the information relayed by the Japanese government, the BI said that “Shigematsu was issued an arrest warrant by the Kajiki summary court in Japan in July last year after he was charged with theft in violation of the Japanese Penal Code.”
“Shigematsu and his accomplices were accused of running voice phishing operations that victimized many of their compatriots,” it said.
“The suspects allegedly perpetrated the scheme by impersonating police officers in order to exact money from victims,” it added.
Shigematsu is now detained at the BI’s warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending his deportation.