MANILA, Philippines – A Japanese national who is wanted for a large-scale telecom fraud in Japan was intercepted and arrested by agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Thursday.
The suspect, identified as Saito Shimoeda, 25, a Japanese national was slso barred from boarding his Cebu Pacific flight bound for Nagoya, Japan, last November 16.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco disclosed that upon detection of Shimoeda’s alert list order during departure formalities, he resorted to alarming tactics, intentionally bumping his head on the immigration counter and feigning distress.
The BI on-duty supervisor then confirmed that Shimoeda is a subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Tokyo Summary Court for being part of a large-scale telecom fraud group.
According to Tansingco, the suspect was said to be working as a fraudulent caller for a criminal group victimizing his compatriots while he is overseas.
Records further revealed that Shimoeda entered the Philippines in 2019 and has since eluded arrest.
“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,” he said.
“We urge foreign nationals to respect Philippine laws and warn that the government is committed to cooperating with international authorities to ensure the swift and just resolution of such cases,” he added.
The arrested fugitive was placed in the blacklist and is now classified as an undesirable alien under Philippine immigration regulations. He will be detained at the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig pending the implementation of his deportation.
