JAKARTA – The Directorate General of Immigration, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, along with the International Relations Division of the National Police, repatriated the Filipino citizen Hector Aldwin Pantollana (HAP), who was an Interpol fugitive for fleeing prosecution.
HAP is suspected of committing fraud (scamming) and casino-related crimes in his country. HAP will be repatriated to the Philippines on Wednesday (27/11) to continue the legal accountability process for the crime he committed.
“HAP is a fugitive from the Philippines National Police related to a fugitive wanted for prosecution, meaning that he is a fugitive who has fled from the prosecution process in his country, in this case, the Philippines,” said Acting Director General of Immigration Saffar M. Godam as reported by ANTARA on Tuesday, November 26.
Godam explained that the arrest of HAP began when the Directorate General of Immigration received information from the Philippine Bureau of Investigation on October 31, 2024, that the individual was traveling to Indonesia.
The Directorate General of Immigration immediately followed up on the information. Based on crossing data, further information was obtained that HAP had indeed crossed through Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali on October 10, 2024.
Furthermore, on November 4, 2024, the Directorate General of Immigration immediately prevented HAP to detect movement if the individual attempts to leave Indonesia through the airport or other entry points.
HAP was detected to be departing to Hong Kong via Ngurah Rai Airport on November 9, 2024. The Directorate General of Immigration then successfully prevented the fugitive’s departure.
“After that, officers from the Directorate General of Immigration secured the individual and brought him to Jakarta to facilitate coordination with police colleagues, specifically the NCB Interpol and the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia,” added Godam.
The Philippine government then sent a letter to the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration requesting the repatriation of HAP. The repatriation of the suspect to their country of origin, explained Godam, can be carried out as regulated in Article 75 paragraph (3) of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration.
“Then, on November 13, 2024, we conducted the handover for the umpteenth time with Interpol, and we are very synergistic in handling fugitives like this in Indonesia,” said Godam.
Godam said regarding HAP’s return to the Philippines on Wednesday (27/11) tomorrow, the Philippine Police are already on standby, represented by the Immigration Attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Indonesia.
Leave a Reply