BI turns over fugitive to China

A high-profile Chinese fugitive wanted by Chinese authorities is set to be deported soon after being captured by Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) personnel.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the suspect as 49-year-old Xie Haojie who was arrested in his unit in Pasay City.

Xie, who was positively identified by members of the Chinese police during his presentation to media, is a former government official wanted in Beijing for corruption and economic crimes.

The Chinese has been hiding in the Philippines since March last year, going below the radar of authorities by not engaging in business activities.

The Philippines was just his hiding place. No reports of money invested in the Philippines. He just escaped to the Philippines,” Morente said.

I think most of his activities involved hiding, evading authorities and ensuring that he would not be detected. We were able to locate him with the help of PACC and Anti-Crime Commission of China,” he added.

Xie will be immediately deported to China and his name included in the blacklist of undesirable aliens, the BI chief said.

“We will not tolerate the presence of undesirable aliens using the Philippines as a hideout. Fugitives will be sent back [to their country] to face their crimes,” he added.

According to Morente, the case was coordinated to the BI and the PACC by Chinese authorities. The two agencies, then, conducted a coordination meeting to track and locate the whereabouts of Xie.

“The PACC was informed of this case by their counterpart in China and they immediately coordinated the details to us,” Morente said.

“We wish to thank PACC Chair Dante Jimenez and his team for their partnership in this case. This shows that if government agencies work together, they will be able to achieve so much,” he stated.

Morente, BI fugitive search unit chief Bobby Raquepo, Jimenez and other PACC officials turned over Xie today to Chinese authorities in a ceremony held at the office of the PACC at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.

“The Philippines and China will continue to strengthen our cooperation in going after Chinese fugitives hiding in our country, including former government officials wanted for corruption,” Morente said.

At the time of his arrest, Xie was already an undocumented alien because his passport has already been revoked by the Chinese government.