Scammer Xian Gaza flees Philippines after conviction

MANILA, Philippines — Self-confessed scammer and internet personality Christian “Xian” Gaza claims he fled the country last year, a few months after being convicted by a Malabon court for an investment scam involving bouncing checks.

In an interview over Facebook, Gaza told The STAR that he went abroad on Sept. 30, 2018 even though he was sentenced by a Malabon trial court to five years in prison in June that year.

Gaza also said he was able to go abroad months before he got a temporary injunction deferring his service of sentence from a Malabon Regional Trial Court on Dec. 3, 2018.

“I received a copy furnished thru my former legal counsel last Jan. 10, 2019. Nakalabas ako ng bansa (I got out of the country) last Sept. 30, 2018 with a five year and six months’ jail sentence that was executory with no injunction at all,” Gaza said.

Asked if he has returned to the country or is planning on returning, Gaza said: “No comment.”

Gaza said in a viral Facebook post that he was able to board his flight to Hong Kong despite a conviction just by wearing a face mask.

The Bureau of Immigration slammed Gaza for his fake Facebook “stunt,” saying it makes a “mockery of our airport procedures for attention.”

Sought for reaction, Gaza said: “Kapag sa akin eh marami kayong time magsalita, bibigyan niyo pa ng sanctions. Pero kapag kay Peter Lim at sa iba, pati na yung mga libu-libong TNT Chinese workers, eh, no comment kayo. Pawer (When it’s me, you have time to talk and impose sanctions. But on Peter Lim and the thousands of illegal Chinese workers, no comment. Power).”  – Evelyn Macairan