Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Foreign nationals wait in fromt of the Bureau of Immigration in Manila on February 26, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Mon Rodelas

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Two Japanese nationals wanted for fraud in Japan were arrested by authorities in Lian, Batangas on April 8, and are now facing deportation, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Saturday.In a phone interview, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the suspects, who have been identified as Takahashi Yuta, 45, and Sugita Yuki, 39, were apprehended by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in coordination with Japanese authorities.She said the two are part of a syndicate and are subjects of arrest warrants issued  by the Omiya Summary Court in 2024 for fraud.The suspects reportedly fled to the Philippines before the cases were formally filed, prompting their classification as “wanted fugitives.”<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/17/british-scuba-instructor-arrested-in-romblon-for-overstaying-in-ph-1042">British scuba instructor arrested in Romblon for overstaying in PH </a></div>The BI said the arrests were carried out at Sitio Ilaya in Barangay Matabungkay, with assistance from the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group and the Police Regional Office 4A’s Regional Intelligence Division.The two fugitives entered the Philippines as visitors in January 2024 but have overstayed their visas. “One thing that we&#x27;ve noted why these fugitives go to the Philippines is because we&#x27;re visa-free... [when they are under investigation], they go to a visa-free country and then hide there,” she explained.She added that authorities have already dismantled the syndicate’s operations, with all identified members reportedly arrested.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/17/bi-arrests-mongolian-national-for-alleged-espionage-linked-activities-in-zambales-1728">BI arrests Mongolian national for alleged espionage-linked activities in Zambale </a></div>The two fugitives are currently detained at the BI Warden’s Facility in Metro Manila while undergoing deportation proceedings.

In a phone interview, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the suspects, who have been identified as Takahashi Yuta, 45, and Sugita Yuki, 39, were apprehended by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in coordination with Japanese authorities.

In a phone interview, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the suspects, who have been identified as Takahashi Yuta, 45, and Sugita Yuki, 39, were apprehended by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in coordination with Japanese authorities.

2 Japanese fugitives arrested in Batangas face deportation — BI

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2 Japanese fugitives arrested in Batangas face deportation — BI

Mon Rodelas,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 11, 2026 04:18 PM PHT

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Updated April 11, 2026 06:28 PM PHT

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Bureau of Immigration

Fugitive Search Unit

Japan

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