Chinese fugitive Wang Bo deported to China —De Lima

Chinese fugitive Wang Bo has been deported back to China, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed on Thursday.

 

At a press conference, De Lima said as of 8:43 a.m., Wang Bo was on board a plane going to Guangzhou, China, and "taxi-ing towards the runway for takeoff."

 

Wang Bo's deportation came following De Lima's denial of his motion for reconsideration (MR), which had sought to reverse her June 8 resolution affirming his deportation.

 

Wang Bo is wanted in China for allegedly embezzling $100 million. He escaped to the Philippines but was arrested last February. A deportation order was initially issued against him last March 5 but was eventually reversed on May 21 after he appealed.

 

Immigration officials later ordered that Wang Bo be taken out of the government's blacklist. Just as he was about to walk free, De Lima issued an order holding his release.

 

De Lima would later reinstate his deportation in her June 8 resolution.

 

In denying Wang Bo's MR, De Lima said she found no reason to reverse her June 8 resolution, saying the evidence received and documents presented by the Chinese Embassy were sufficient and warrant his deportation.

 

De Lima said Wang Bo's excuse that he has been traveling to and from China without being arrested was deemed "irrelevant to the case for being a matter internal to the People's Republic of China."

 

"What was considered here is the fact that the People's Republic of China had canceled (Wang Bo's) passport and that he was, as well, declared a fugitive from the said country," she said.

 

"The 5 March 2015 summary deportation order against movant Wang Bo shall henceforth be immediately implemented without further delay whatsoever," De Lima said.

 

Wang Bo's money was also allegedly used to bribe Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials in exchange for his release and a clean passport.

 

He allegedly gave P100 million to BI officials, while $10 million was supposedly allotted for 292 lawmakers who were voting on the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

 

Wang Bo, facing a House panel, had earlier denied the bribery charges, saying he does not have enough money to pay off individuals, especially since he supposedly only earns P25,000 a month. —KG, GMA News