Chinese carrier of HK$1M fled to Hong Kong

By Lorenzo Dela Cerna

CEBU City – The Chinese national who brought in HK$1 million illegally into the country has fled to Hong Kong hours after he was held in custody for investigation.

Bureau of Immigration and Deportation 7 (BID-7) records showed that Zheng Ji Feng departed to Hong Kong from Manila onboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 306.

BID-7 Alien Control Officer Casimero Madarang Jr., however, told Panay News that he cannot ascertain what time Zheng departed. He suspects it was 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

It was not also known what time Zheng left from Cebu to Manila.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) District Collector Atty. Ronnie Silvestre said he was informed on Tuesday afternoon that Zheng and his companion, Danny Ho, were not at the Customs Police Office of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). The money is still there though.

Silvestre, who is still in Davao City for a conference, told Panay News that he tasked lawyer Edward James Dy Buco, chief of the Port of Cebu Legal Division, to investigate the matter.

Silvestre had earlier ordered the Customs police on Sunday to arrest Zheng and Ho for violation of Republic Act 7653. He also directed Mactan Customs Collector Rene Benavides to implement the Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) on the money.

Capt. George Macarubbo, commander of the Customs Police at the Subport of Mactan, explained that they were not able to arrest Zheng since the suspect was not around. Zheng’s passports and travel documents were also not in their possession plus the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office was closed when Zheng was held for investigation.

He related that he called Zheng, MCIA Passenger Service Collector Fe Toring, Customs Examiner Verlito Ajos, and Lucky Star Treasury head Joana Marie Nolasco Aquino to witness the inventory of the money found in Zheng’s possession on Sunday morning.

Macarubbo said they took for lunch break but Zheng never came back and it was Aquino who appeared in behalf of the Chinese national.

He said Aquino told him that Zheng is under their custody and promised to present Zheng if called. He added that Dy Buco had warned Aquino to be ready for the consequences of Zheng’s custody in case he fails to appear before the inquest proceeding and court appearance.

When they were about to conduct inquest proceeding, he asked Aquino to present Zheng but Atty. Rico Amores and Atty. Celso Espenoza of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) appeared as the legal counsels of Zheng. A certain Charlie Lee then informed him over the phone that he and Zheng cannot attend the hearing, thus the inquest was not conducted.

Macarubbo, however, assured that a case for violation of the 3601 of the Tariff and Customs Code also known as the unlawful importation of foreign currencies in relation to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular 308 Series of 2001 dated September 15, 2001 that regulates the bringing in or out of Philippine or foreign currencies from or to the country was filed against Zheng at the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.

He said he is contemplating of filing a case for obstruction of justice against Aquino.

Macarubbo also claimed that Pagcor security guards and officials prevented them from entering the Pagcor office at the Waterfront Hotel in Mactan when they implemented the WSD issued by Silvestre on Monday. The WSD was formally received by Pagccor Concierge Supervisor Michael Ferrer on Monday afternoon with the help of Pagcor Chief Executive Officer Eric Lavido.

Benvides, on the other hand, was surprised when informed by Panay News that Zheng had already left for Hong Kong despite his order to the BID-7 to hold Zheng.

Macarubbo told Panay News that the request was received by BID-Mactan at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Zheng and Ho arrived at the MCIA on March 7 onboard Cebu Pacific flight CX-921 from Hong Kong. Zheng carried the bag containing the HK$1 million.

Customs Examiner Lito Ajos discovered the money during a physical examination. The bag did not pass through the X-ray machine since it was not working.

At the current rate exchange of P5.20 to HK$1, the money seized has an equivalent amount of P5.2 million. Ajos held the money based on BSP Circular 308 that “Any person who brings into or out of the Philippines foreign currency in excess of US$10,000 or its equivalent is required to declare the same in writing and to furnish information on the source and purpose of the transportation of such currency.”

“Any violation hereof shall be subjected to the sanctions provided for in Section 36 of Republic Act7653 without prejudice to the application of remedies and sanctions provided for under customs laws and regulations,” it added.

A source said the Chinese nationals were accompanied by Pagcor officials to Silvestre’s office to explain that the money is owned by Lucky Star, a foreign firm which operates a casino at Pagcor at the Waterfront Hotel-Mactan.

But Silvestre was in Davao and the Chinese nationals were brought back to the Customs Police Office./PN