BI: Chinese left Philippine Despite hold order

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration is investigating how a Chinese was able to leave the country despite being the subject of a court-issued hold departure order (HDO).

In a statement yesterday, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Cai Xiaoming, 43, traveled abroad even after a Pangasinan regional trial court issued the HDO on charges of tax evasion in September last year.

Bureau spokesperson Dana Sandoval said there is no record of Cai leaving the country.

Cai was arrested upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 from Quanzhou, China on May 20 after immigration officers saw his name on the BI’s list of persons with court-issued HDOs.

The BI said Cai’s arrest is for violating Section 37(a)7 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 for evasion of departure immigration inspection.

Last May 24, BI agents also arrested another Chinese fugitive, Wang Zili, 27, at NAIA-1 as he was about to leave for Shanghai.

Wang is allegedly one of 16 Chinese who were recently placed in the BI’s watchlist after the bureau was informed that they are wanted in China for their alleged involvement in economic crimes.

Both Cai and Wang are being held at the BI warden facility at Camp Bagong Diwa. — Rudy Santos