Tianyi Zhang (left) and Jun Zhang (right) (Photo courtesy of BI)
MANILA – Immigration authorities have prevented two Chinese fugitives from fleeing the country at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.
In a news release Thursday, Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Jun Zhang, 36; and Tianyi Zhang, 28, were intercepted and arrested on separate occasions on June 1 after they tried to depart the country for Bangkok, Thailand and Xiamen, China, respectively.
Jun, who was arrested while attempting to board a flight to Bangkok, presented himself as a Myanmar national with the name Lu Kyin Yang at the immigration counter.
“We received advanced information from the Chinese government that he is a fugitive in China and that he would be using that Myanmar passport to evade detection,” Tansingco said.
Jun reportedly arrived in the country in April, before Chinese authorities filed the information on his crimes with the BI.
Meanwhile, Tianyi was found to have a deportation order by the BI for being an undocumented and undesirable alien, after she was caught working for an establishment involved in prostitution and labor exploitation.
Tianyi and two other Chinese suspects also face a case before the Makati City regional trial court for the crime.
A hold departure order has been issued against them by the court to prevent them from leaving while their cases are still under trial.
“They are now detained at our detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City where they will remain until they are deported,” Tansingco said.
Meanwhile, Tansingco said they are considering legal actions against a man who claimed to be a BI employee.
He made the remark after receiving information on Wednesday that the police are investigating Marion Badando, who reportedly presented himself as an immigration officer and a lawyer, after being tagged as part of a kidnapping syndicate involved in the June 2 abduction of two foreigners in Pasay City.
He said a thorough review of the BI's records showed that Badando, who remains at large, is not, and has never been, an employee of the BI.
He advised the public to verify the credentials of anyone claiming to be a BI employee through official channels and also via the Commissioner’s helpline at Facebook.com/immigration.helpline.ph. (PNA)
The Philippine News Agency is a web-based newswire service of the Philippine government under the supervision of the News and Information Bureau (NIB) of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).