279 Taiwanese in cyber fraud kicked out

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government deported yesterday 279 Taiwanese nationals arrested last month in the country’s biggest crackdown on cyber fraud.

Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the Taiwanese left the country via two chartered flights of China Airlines and Eva Air that left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 at 6:30 a.m.

They were brought to the airport on five buses that fetched them from Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Laguna where they were detained since their arrest on Aug. 23.

 David said the Taiwanese were blacklisted and banned from reentering the Philippines.

Taiwan earlier urged the Philippines to send them home to face prosecution there.

They are accused of impersonating police, prosecutors and bank officials to convince victims in China and Taiwan to transfer money to accounts provided by the syndicate.

The suspects allegedly duped victims into believing their bank or credit card accounts had been hacked.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier approved the deportation of the Taiwanese after one of them died of dengue fever while others suffered from respiratory ailments in the crowded makeshift detention facility in a police camp gymnasium in Canlubang, Laguna.

Records showed that the deportees were among the 291 Taiwanese and 87 Chinese nationals arrested by joint police, naval and immigration intelligence operatives in Quezon City, Marikina City, and Antipolo and Cainta in Rizal last month for their involvement in online fraud.

Also arrested were two suspected financiers of a gang involved in credit card fraud and human smuggling in Taiwan and China, the BI said.

 Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said they will deport the 87 Chinese within the week. – With Rudy Santos, AP