By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Immigration authorities have arrested two Chinese nationals being pursued by law enforcement in China for their alleged involvement in online gambling and fraud operations, while a third Chinese citizen was taken into custody for violating Philippine immigration laws during the same series of operations in Parañaque City.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said the arrests form part of the government’s intensified campaign against transnational crime and its continuing effort to prevent the country from serving as a sanctuary for foreign fugitives.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the fugitives as Jiang Yin, 31, and Li Chuang, 34, who were separately apprehended by members of the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit during coordinated operations conducted on the evening of June 16 in Parañaque.
The BI said the operations were carried out with assistance from Chinese law enforcement authorities, who supplied intelligence information that helped locate the suspects.
While executing the operation against Li, immigration operatives also encountered another Chinese national, Wang Weixin, 32, whose records revealed that he had remained in the Philippines beyond the validity of his authorized stay. Authorities also discovered that he was already covered by an active Hold Departure Order, prompting his immediate arrest for immigration violations.
According to the Bureau, Chinese investigators accuse Jiang and Li of playing significant roles in criminal groups that allegedly operated the “Qianneng Wallet” platform, which authorities believe was used to facilitate illegal online gambling and fraudulent financial transactions.
Investigators further alleged that the syndicates recruited fellow Chinese nationals to participate in unlawful gambling activities, with the two suspects reportedly serving as supervisors responsible for managing betting operations and extending gambling credit to participants.
Immigration records also showed that Jiang first entered the Philippines in 2019 under a temporary visitor visa but failed to maintain a lawful immigration status. Meanwhile, BI verification confirmed that Li had already been placed under the Bureau’s blacklist and watchlist as an undesirable alien and a fugitive wanted overseas.
Viado stressed that the Philippines remains committed to denying safe haven to foreign nationals attempting to evade prosecution in their home countries.
He said the Bureau will continue working closely with international law enforcement agencies to identify, locate, arrest, and deport fugitives who violate Philippine immigration laws or use the country as a base for criminal operations.
Following their arrest, all three Chinese nationals were transferred to the Bureau of Immigration’s detention facility for documentation and processing. Jiang and Li will undergo deportation proceedings as fugitives and immigration violators, while Wang will face separate administrative proceedings for overstaying.
ia/xf
