By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday reported the recent arrest of a Chinese fugitive wanted by authorities in Beijing.
In a statement, Commissioner Norman Tansingco said 36-year-old Zhang Xianfa, was arrested at the immigration departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City last Feb. 14.
The foreigner was supposed to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Guangzhou, China when he was intercepted by BI officers who noticed that he was in the BI’s database of aliens with existing derogatory records.
He was subsequently turned over to personnel of the BI’s border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) who then brought him to the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
The BI chief noted that Zhang is just awaiting his flight to China as records show that he was already ordered deported by the BI board of commissioners in May 2023 for being an undesirable alien.
He will be sent back to Beijing as soon as the BI secures the required clearances for his deportation.
The Chinese national is already barred from re-entering the Philippines as a result of his inclusion in the immigration blacklist.
Zhang is among 16 Chinese nationals whose deportation was sought by Chinese authorities due to crimes they allegedly committed in China.
The bureau has already ordered the deportation of the remaining 15 Chinese nationals. (PNA)
