De Lima: PNoy wants review of 300 cybercrime suspects' case before deportation

Published September 14, 2012 3:41pm

President Benigno Aquino III has called for a review of the case involving over 300 foreigners, mostly Taiwanese nationals, suspected of being behind a large-scale cybercrime operations in the Philippines. On Friday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the government did not prevent the deportation of the foreigners, but merely pushed back such move while authorities determine the suspects' criminal liability.

"Pinapa-review kasi ni Presidente kung kailangang may kasong i-file sa kanila so pending review or evaluation, hinold muna sila," De Lima said.

The 357 foreigners were arrested last August 23 during a crackdown on international syndicates victimizing residents of Taiwan and mainland China.

The arrested individuals were mostly Taiwanese save for 86 Chinese nationals and one from New Zealand. They are currently detained at Camp General Vicente Lim in Laguna.

The foreigners were supposed to fly out of the Philippines Wednesday morning via two chartered flights.

The foreigners had already been charged for being illegal aliens, and thus paved the way for their deportation to Taiwan where further charges could await them from their victims.

But De Lima said the foreigners should not be allowed to leave the country that easily without their other criminal liability being determined first.

"That's the single, biggest bust ever involving cybercrime... Pinapa-double-check lang if indeed deportation is already the most viable course of action," De Lima said.

Authorities earlier said the cybercrime group operated by telling their overseas victims online that their bank accounts were being used for money laundering and terroristic activities.

The suspects would then advise the victims to transfer their money to another account which the suspects would provide them. Authorities pegged that the cybercrime syndicate earns about P20 million a day from its operations. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: cybercrime, leiladelima, noynoyaquino