3 foreign nationals arrested at NAIA

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Saturday, 2 September, the arrest of three foreign nationals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for violation of immigration laws.

On 31 August, the Bureau arrested a Thai national identified as Teerasade Phutthichotiruksa, a 43-year-old male, who attempted to depart via a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok, Thailand, but the Bureau intercepted him during a primary inspection.

Phutthichotiruksa, according to the BI-NAIA, showed up for his immigration procedures at NAIA Terminal 3 for departure, but the immigration officer found anomalies and irregularities in the stamps placed on his passport. This prompted the BI officer to submit his document for further inspection through the BI's Forensic Documents Laboratory. The BI forensic team inspected his travel documents and confirmed that the stamps shown on his passport were counterfeit.

As a result, Phutthichotiruksa was arrested, read his rights, and immediately transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, while awaiting deportation.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that this case underscores the importance of the immigration officers' vigilance and expertise in detecting fake documents. Their officers are trained to spot irregularities and will arrest foreign nationals who attempt to use fraud to be able to travel.

Meanwhile, on 1 September, the BI also arrested of two Chinese fugitives in separate incidents.

At the NAIA Terminal 3, the Bureau arrested Chen Changdian, 32, after he attempted to depart the country via Scoot Airlines bound for Singapore.

Upon primary inspection, the immigration officer found out that Chen's name was in the BI's database of derogatory records. Chen is the subject of an Interpol red notice after being wanted for prosecution in the United Arab Emirates for the crime of murder in 2022. Based on the BI database, Chen arrived in the country in May 2022, but his name was only tagged as a fugitive by Interpol in November 2022.

While at the NAIA Terminal 1, the Bureau arrested a Chinese woman who was identified as Lyu Yani, 30 years old, after trying to depart the country via a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Bangkok.

According to the BI-NAIA, Lyu's name was also found on Interpol's list of wanted criminals. Lyu was tagged by Interpol as a fugitive wanted for the crime of running a gambling house.

Both Chinese nationals were transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

All three fugitives are currently facing deportation cases, and their names will be included on the BI blacklist, which will bar them from entering the Philippines in the future.