Curious case of Wang Bo: De Lima forms probe team

WANG: Wanted in China

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has created a special team to investigate the case of Wang Bo, a Chinese national wanted in his country but who has allegedly bribed officials to prevent his deportation.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima formed the panel two days after she upheld the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) March 5 ruling summarily deporting Wang for being an “undesirable and undocumented alien.” She thus reversed a later resolution issued May 21 that granted the foreigner temporary liberty.

Wang’s case unraveled in a House inquiry on Tuesday that found BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison to be at odds with two associate commissioners, Abdullah Mangotara and Gilbert Repizo. Mison then recalled that the two officials blocked his decision to deport Wang for they believe he should remain since he had also committed a crime in the country.

Wang, who is wanted in China for illegal gambling and embezzling $100 million, allegedly paid off immigration officials to prevent his deportation and secure his release from BI custody.

A newspaper report has also claimed that the Chinese was used to raise funds for the House leadership and bribe lawmakers into supporting the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

In her June 8 resolution affirming Wang’s deportation, De Lima cited how certain acts of BI officials “pointed to a curious sequence of actions or inactions that were geared toward keeping Wang Bo anywhere except China.”

‘Simulated’ estafa raps

“This case has raised questions and issues on how it was handled by the officials of the BI. It has also raised questions on the attempt of Wang Bo to prevent his deportation with the filing of a simulated criminal complaint,” De Lima said.

She was referring to an estafa charge filed against Wang by Bryan Bantilan, the same lawyer who served as his counsel during inquest proceedings following his arrest on Feb. 10. The case, the lawyer argued, required that Wang remain in the Philippines.

“The suspicious circumstances surrounding the delay in the implementation and eventual reversal of the Summary Deportation Order need to be investigated in order to determine if indeed the allegations of bribery that have been reported in the media are true,” she said.

The special investigation team will be composed of National Bureau of Investigation officers Peter Chan Lugay, Cesar Reyes, Arnold Diaz, Catherine Camposano-Remigio and Glenn Anthony Quimio.

De Lima gave them 30 days to look into “the possible commission of criminal or administrative offenses by private individuals and public officials” in their handling of Wang’s case, from his arrest on Feb. 10 to the proceedings on May 26 where BI officials took a vote and emerged divided on his deportation.

Wang is currently detained at a BI facility in Bicutan, Taguig City. The Chinese Embassy has asked the BI several times to deport him, submitting proof of his status as a wanted criminal in his home country.