43 Taiwanese extortion suspects deported Tuesday

CEBU, Philippines -  The 43 Taiwanese arrested a few weeks ago for alleged involvement in a “blackmail ring” will be deported Tuesday.

Superintendent Rex Derilo, Police Regional Office-7 Regional Intelligence Division acting chief, said they have already withdrawn the case filed against the Taiwanese “blackmailers” since they could not be deported if there are existing cases against them here in the country.

“Since most of the victims are from Mainland China and Taiwan, it is necessary that they should be deported,” he said.

At around 5 a.m. yesterday, the Taiwanese were transported by plane to Clark, Pampanga as part of the preparation for their deportation. They would be under the custody of the Philippine Immigration Academy for a few days.

On Tuesday, they will be brought to Manila before being sent back to Taiwan.

Derilo, though, said 25 Chinese nationals who were allegedly the Taiwanese’s cohorts would remain as the charges against them were not withdrawn.

“In fact, in a few days, ma-file na ang case sa korte,” he said.

Derilo, though, said that after the investigation on the Chinese by their consulate, the cases against them might also be withdrawn and they probably would face deportation.

As of now, the foreign nationals are housed somewhere in Cebu and secured by the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7 and the RID-7.

Earlier this month, 68 Chinese and Taiwanese were arrested in a joint operation by different government agencies imple-menting a court order authorizing them to search several subdivisions around the Cebu City where the foreigners were staying.

During the operation, the police seized several Internet and VoIP connection equipment that include routers, telephones, and modems.

The foreigners were tagged as part of a big syndicate based in the Philippines extorting money through blackmail from people in Taiwan and mainland China, in violation of the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998. —/RHM (FREEMAN)