DOJ upholds Wang Bo deportation

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday affirmed with finality the summary deportation order issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) last March against Wang Bo, the Chinese fugitive wanted for online illegal gambling.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima denied Wang’s appeal of an earlier DOJ resolution, which struck down the resolution issued by the BI commissioners ordering his release last May.

“The documents presented by the Chinese embassy are sufficient basis to order the deportation of Wang Bo. What was considered here is the fact that the Chinese government had cancelled his passport, and he was declared a fugitive from the said country,” the DOJ resolution read.

De Lima rejected the claim of Wang’s lawyers that he has been traveling to and from China without being arrested, saying this was irrelevant to the case.

Earlier, the DOJ deferred Wang’s deportation as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has yet to conclude its probe on allegations that he bribed BI officials to prevent his deportation.

The NBI has concluded its probe and found no evidence in the bribery charge, paving the way for the implementation of Wang’s deportation. The bribe was supposedly funneled to the Liberal Party.

The Chinese fugitive has been detained at the BI jail in Taguig since his arrest on Feb. 10 upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Malaysia.

The Chinese embassy sought the BI’s assistance in apprehending Wang, saying he was wanted for illegal gambling in China.

Wang was employed at the ELC Technology Consulting Co. Inc. in the Cagayan Economic Zone. His name was automatically placed in the BI’s blacklist and barred from returning to the country.