PH SHOULD ENSURE DEPORTED CRIMINALS CANNOT RETURN —HONTIVEROS

The Philippine government should ensure that deported foreigners involved in transnational criminal activities will no longer return to the country, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday. 

Hontiveros made the remark following the meeting of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) chairman Executive Secretary (ES) Lucas Bersamin and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian regarding the ongoing government campaign against illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country

The senator said the transnational syndicates associated with POGOs are Chinese nationals; therefore, it is proper that the Philippine government work with its Chinese counterpart in combating these criminals’ illicit activities.

''The ES and the ambassador should have also discussed ways to ensure that criminals deported back to China do not ever step foot on our shores again, especially since we are seeing increasing alarming evidence globally that these criminals also sometimes work for the Chinese State,'' Hontiveros said in a press release. 

Hontiveros, who has since been very vocal in condemning crimes associated with illegal POGO hubs, expressed confidence in Bersamin's capacity to do this. 

''Tiwala ako na maingat ang ating ES (I have trust that our ES would be careful on this matter). We must not allow our country to be a destination for spying or for crimes,'' Hontiveros said. 

Bersamin and Huang had a meeting on Monday, July 1, to discuss and explore ways to strengthen their partnership in the fight against transnational criminal activities.

The PAOCC said China has expressed its appreciation for the recent actions taken by Philippine law enforcement authorities to counter illegal offshore gambling and to rescue several Chinese nationals. 

The Philippine government has been investigating the illegal POGO hubs operations in the country.

Authorities have launched a series of raids against POGO hubs, leading to the rescue of torture and kidnap victims and the discovery of equipment for alleged criminal activities. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

This article PH should ensure deported criminals cannot return —Hontiveros was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-07-03T07:02:59Z dg43tfdfdgfd