The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday reported that a departing Japanese national who was found to be the target of a deportation case due to being an undesirable alien was intercepted by BI officials at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a report given to BI commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado, BI-NAIA Terminal 3 Head Supervisor Dennis Javier identified the Japanese passenger as Makoto Shinoda, who was apprehended while he attempted to board his flight via an Etihad Airways bound for Abu Dhabi.

Javier disclosed that Shinoda was flagged by the immigration officer processing his departure after a positive match was found in the BI’s derogatory record system. Shinoda was on the bureau’s watchlist and wanted for deportation based on the alert.

“He was sent for secondary inspection right away, and our supervisors verified that he was the same person on the watchlist order,” said Javier.

Shinoda was then turned over to the BI’s Border Control and Intelligence Unit (BCIU) and sent to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City. He will stay there until the outcome of his deportation proceedings.

Meantime, Viado commended the immigration officers’ attentiveness, pointing out that their prompt action stopped a foreign national who was facing serious charges from leaving the country and avoiding his legal obligations.

“Due to his status as an undesirable foreigner, he will be sent back to Japan and permanently barred from returning to the Philippines once deportation proceedings are completed,” the BI chief said.

The issue originates from a complaint filed by two of Shinoda’s fellow Japanese nationals, who accused him of defrauding them of over $1 million in a fraudulent real estate venture.

According to the report, the complainants claimed that Shinoda persuaded them to invest US$1.023 million on a building project along Molino Blvd. in Bacoor City, Cavite, which Shinoda allegedly had no plan of completing.