A CHINESE national suspected to be a member of a ‘mafia’ engaged in the trafficking their citizens in the Philippines was taken into custody by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The Chinese national was identified as a certain Andy Cheng, 38, who was arrested by operatives of the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) headed by Rendel Ryan Sy last December 13.
Sy said that Cheng, who also bore numerous aliases, was tagged as a suspect in torture videos of illegal online gaming companies. He was initially arrested by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) Regional Field Unit National Capital Region (RFU-NCR) last December 7 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City but posted bail after 6 days.
“Our operatives immediately arrested him after learning that he was about to post bail, as he is also wanted by the BI for violating immigration laws,” said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
It was reported that Cheng allegedly underwent plastic surgery to evade detection by authorities, while firearms and numerous fake IDs were found in his possession. He was also wanted by the BI for misrepresenting himself as a Filipino and for being an undesirable alien.
“His continued stay here in the country poses a threat to Filipinos and foreign nationals working here We will not allow him to continue his illegal activities that sow fear among foreigners in the Philippines,” Tansingco said.
Tansingco then vowed to continue closely working with local law enforcement agencies to locate, arrest, and deport aliens found to be violating immigration laws.
