Dante Tan flees Australia

SYDNEY, Australia — Filipino businessman Dante Tan, already on the run from authorities in Manila, also fled Australia on Wednesday amid charges he obtained a residency visa from a government minister after making a political donation, the Australian government said yesterday.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said Australian police were powerless to stop Tan from leaving the country, even though he is wanted in the Philippines for the largest insider trading case in the country’s history.

Ruddock said Australia had received no extradition request from the Philippines, so it could not stop Tan from leaving.

The opposition Labor Party has questioned in parliament whether Ruddock’s intervention to renew Tan’s visa in 2001 was linked to a A$10,000 ($6,500) donation the fugitive made to the minister’s election campaign.

The Party also demanded to know why Ruddock granted migrants visas after money totaling 113,000 dollars was donated to the Liberal Party.

Ruddock denied wrongdoing in granting visas and revealed Tan left Australia on Wednesday, as the opposition was turning up the heat on the bribery allegations.

In a press briefing yesterday in Manila, Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong stressed the Philippine government would do everything necessary so the Australian government will extradite Tan despite his also facing charges there in connection with his citizenship and alleged illegal campaign contributions.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is now in the process of investigating those who may have had a hand in giving Tan clearances that paved the way for his flight to Australia two years ago.

It is also eyeing provisional arrest for Tan to prevent him from escaping again from authorities.

DOJ Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez disclosed they are exploring all avenues to get Tan and make him face the string of cases filed against him in connection with the BW Resources stock manipulation scandal a few years back. – With Aurea Calica