MANILA, July 17 — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a Taiwanese national wanted for illegal drugs in Taipei.
BI’s fugitive search unit captured Lee Chun Hsien, 49, at his residence located along the corner of Congressional Road and Gen. Mariano Alvarez Street, Cavite City on Friday.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the foreigner was apprehended at the request of the Taipei Cultural Economic Office (TECO) office in Manila which informed the agency about the fugitive’s presence in the country.
“Based on our investigation, he (Lee) had been hiding in the Philippines for almost eight years and that he is already an overstaying alien,” he said in a statement.
BI records showed that Lee applied for extension of his tourist visa only once since he arrived in Manila on Dec. 10, 2009.
On the other hand, BI Spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang said the foreigner is an undocumented alien due to the cancellation of his passport by the Taiwanese government.
“He (Lee) will thus be deported for being an overstaying and undocumented alien, aside from posing risk to public safety and security due to his being a fugitive from justice,” she said.
Earlier, TECO informed the BI that Lee is the subject of an arrest warrant which the Taoyuan District Prosecutor’s Office in Taiwan issued against him on Dec. 29, 2010, or more than a year after he fled to the Philippines to evade prosecution and sentence for his crime.
But, the said office did not provide details about his criminal offense or on how and when he committed his alleged crime.
The BI board of commissioners is expected to issue a summary deportation order against Lee when it meets for its regular meeting this week. (Ferdinand G. Patinio/PNA)
