JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said two of the four Japanese nationals wanted in Japan due to their involvement in several robberies and other crimes will be deported today, Tuesday.
However, Remulla said he is still hoping to deport all the four Japanese fugitives also on Tuesday.
“Hopefully tomorrow, everybody. The worst case scenario is only two tomorrow, but we are working for everybody to be deported tomorrow,” Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is working double time to dismiss the pending criminal cases against the two Japanese nationals by the courts so they can be deported before the scheduled state visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Japan from February 8 to February 12.
“We are still hoping for the full deportation already, so we will change our plans if things do not push through as we expect, but we’re really working for a full deportation,” he added.
Remulla identified the two Japanese nationals who could be deported today as Toshiya Fujita and Kiyoto Imamura.
“Yes, we can, we will. We will,” Remulla said when asked if the deportation of the four fugitives is still possible before President Marcos’ state visit.
Remulla said Japanese law enforcement agents who will escort the deportees had also arrived in the country on Monday.
“I think they are here already, or they should be arriving today. So, if they are not yet here, they are arriving today at the latest,” he added.
Remulla also said a coordination meeting with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and other government agencies on the matter took place at 4 p.m. Monday though he did not provide further details.
If not on Tuesday, Remulla said Yuki Watanabe and another Japanese, Tomonobu Saito may be deported on Wednesday.
“The two of them may leave on Wednesday. We expect them to be cleared for deportation on Wednesday,” Remulla said.
Both are accused of being involved in fraud and robbery cases in Japan. They are also facing cases for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children’s Act (VAWC) filed by their former partners before the same court.
He noted that their cases are already submitted for resolution and the judges handling them are expected to rule on the prosecution’s motions to dismiss the cases.
“So, it really depends upon the court…how the judge wishes to resolve the cases. But I believe that there is judicial notice already of the scheme of lawyers to delay deportation by filing cases that will delay the wheels of justice. And I think the courts are aware of this already,” Remulla explained.
“This was never done before. It is due to the courts. The courts probably for many of these judges, this is the first time they have experienced this kind of setup where a defense lawyer doesn’t want his client to be acquitted,” he added.
The Japanese police have sought the deportation of Watanabe who is believed to be alias “Luffy,” the alleged mastermind of robberies in several prefectures in Japan, and three others after obtaining warrants of arrests from the courts there.
Remulla said Watanabe has a summary deportation order dated May 28, 2021 for being an illegal entrant and a fugitive from justice in connection with the use of counterfeit documents and theft charges in Japan.
The suspects are allegedly using an encrypted messaging app inside detention to communicate with their cohorts in their country for their robbery operations.