Philippine Immigration

An overstaying Chinese fugitive involved in big time smuggling in China who has been hiding in the country to escape conviction in his home country was deported yesterday upon orders of Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

According to Libanan, Cai Wen Xian is wanted by the Anti Smuggling Bureau of Shishi City in China for smuggling large quantities of cigarettes and wine worth hundreds of millions of CNY into China. “The Bureau of Immigration will never allow foreign fugitives to make the Philippines their refuge to escape prosecution in their countries,” Libanan said, adding “We will exert and utilize all the resources of the bureau and even tap the help of other law enforcement agencies, if only to catch and deport every foreign fugitive now hiding in the country.”

Cai wen Xian, who is also known as Xu Zhi Long was captured by elements of the Philippine National Police Anti Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force on May 27, 2008 in Paranaque City. His arrest was prompted by the request of the Consular Office of the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China. He was later turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for immediate deportation.

In a special BI Board of Commissioners meeting to expedite the deportation of Cai Wen Xian, BI Commissioner Libanan, Associate Commissioner Roy M. Almoro and Associate Commissioner Enrique B. Galang Jr. ordered Cai Wen Xian’s summary deportation for being an undocumented and overstaying alien and a fugitive from justice.

Libanan subsequently ordered the implementation of a 24-hour watch and tight security on Cai Wen Xian to prevent possible attempt to escape or injure himself to avoid deportation to China. The Chinese fugitive, while at the Bi custody, attempted to swallow a necklace to induce ailment.

According to Chinese authorities, criminal cases of such magnitude in China could be punishable by death or life sentence.

In a letter to Libanan, Police Attache PSUPT Lunjun Liu of the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China stated that Cai Wen Xian holds an illegally acquired passport through theft and was even able to acquire a Philippine driver license under the name of Lin Rongda. (BI News)