The Japanese embassy on Wednesday lauded the Philippine authorities’s “constructive” response and cooperation on the deportation of its residents concerned in organized robberies throughout Japan.
Manila deported on Tuesday morning two of 4 Japanese suspects Toshiya Fujita and Kiyoto Imamura to Japan. Two others—the alleged mastermind Yuki Watanabe and Kojima Tomonobu—will likely be despatched again late Wednesday evening.
“On January 30, the Government of Japan made anew request of early deportation of four Japanese detained at the Bureau of Immigration. We appreciate the constructive response and cooperation of the related agencies of the Philippines government to realize deportation of two of them,” mentioned embassy media relations officer Hitomi Akihiko in a press release despatched to GMA News Online.
The deportation occurred 4 years after Japan made its first request to ship again the detainees in 2019.
Philippine officers mentioned a swift deportation and determination of the matter would make sure that there can be no “distractions” when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes his first go to to Japan from February 8 to 12 since assuming the presidency in June final 12 months.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla mentioned one of many suspects is utilizing the alias “Luffy,” a personality within the Japanese manga “One Piece.”
“Tomorrow, Luffy will be coming home to Japan,” Remulla instructed reporters.
The 4 Japanese residents who’re additionally mentioned to be orchestrating phone scams, allegedly directed a sequence of robberies in Japan whereas detained in a Philippines immigration holding facility.
Japanese police have obtained arrest warrants in opposition to them.
The 4 detainees have been reportedly concerned in at the very least 14 robberies throughout a number of Japanese prefectures and the homicide of a 90-year-old lady in a suburb in Tokyo, garnering nationwide consideration in Japan.
Remulla mentioned Philippine authorities have confiscated 24 communication gadgets, together with cell phones, tablets, and chargers, from the detainees.
The devices have been turned over to Japanese authorities on Tuesday afternoon, Remulla added.
Escorted again to Japan by 9 Japanese police escorts, Fujita and Imamura, each 38, have been seen in pictures launched by the Philippine Immigration bureau carrying handcuffs, mild blue shorts, navy shirt, and bulletproof vests.
Watanabe and Tomonobu, in the meantime, will likely be accompanied by seven Japanese policemen after they board Japan Airlines flight JL078 at 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.
The two remaining detainees have been cleared for deportation on Tuesday after an area court docket dismissed the instances in opposition to them.
Citing a current assembly with Japanese officers, Remulla mentioned they’d been “satisfied” that the Philippine authorities was “able to act with dispatch.”
“The request was in 2019. It took us only 11 days to finalize the proceedings,” he mentioned. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
