PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is flying to Japan Wednesday next week for his first working visit to the Philippines’ largest donor and second largest trading partner.
But one issue appears to be overshadowing his visit: “Luffy.”
There is a public outrage in Japan over the string of robberies that apparently targets the elderlies. After investigation, it turned out only one guy is behind it and he goes by the codename “Luffy.”
“Luffy,” the Japanese police believes, is behind bars in an immigration holding center in Taguig since 2021. Using highly encrypted Telegram app and mobile phone, “Luffy” would coordinate heists with ring leaders in Japan.
Japan has asked that the Philippine government to deport “Luffy” and three other Japanese fugitives inside the Philippine jail.
Citing Japanese police sources, the Japanese media identified “Luffy” as Yuki Watanabe, 38 years old.
It would have been easy to deport a fugitive back to his home country.
But the main problem is: his Filipina wife has filed domestic violence charges against him and he has to face charges here in the Philippines as well.
‘Huli-me scam’
A month after the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Watanabe in 2021, his Filipina wife Jenny Detoguez filed a case against him — violation of Republic Act 9262 or Violence Against Women and Children.
If a foreigner was charged in the Philippines, his deportation will be put on hold so he can face charges at the local courts.
In principle, justice needs to be served first for Filipino nationals who felt aggrieved before the foreign fugitive is handed down to his government.
But Justice Secretary Jesus “Crispin” Remulla said this setup is being abused now. Lawyers would “concoct “fabricate” cases, delaying the deporting of their clients. This is a classic case of “huli-me” whereby foreigners would allow themselves to be arrested or charged.
A high-ranking official told republicasia, by paying wardens or jailguards at the BI facility, foreigners can still keep doing nefarious businesses even while in jail.
“Pera pera lang yan,” the source said, saying payoff could range from P1 million to P5 million.
Remulla said they are investigating allegations of payoff.
He said aside from Japan, China is also asking DOJ’s intervention to deport Chinese prisoners at the BI detention facility.
“To a certain extent we have corrected some wrongs to this regards. We have deported two Chinese nationals who also have cases, and whose cases were also dismissed afterwards and we’ve found out that these cases have been fabricated. So that’s what we’re learning from this is we are learning from this experience. Because its the first time that two states, one after the other, have requested us for the deportation of people and we are dealing with them the best way possible as a responsible country,” Remulla told reporters.
Watanabe hearing
DOJ prosecutors apparently argued the same line when they asked the Pasay City court to junk the case of Watanabe.
During the hearing Thursday, Pasay City Judge Christian Castaneda allowed Watanabe’s wife to present witnesses, throwing the government’s appeal in the back burner.
Watanabe’s counsel spoke with reporters after the hearing.
“We proceeded with the case. It was not dismissed,” lawyer Eljun Rico said, referring to the hearing, which lasted for 30 to 45 minutes. Another presentation of witnesses was set on Tuesday.
“ The motion to dismiss is a confidential proceedings, but as I said with the proceedings of the court today, with the presentation of witnesses, the motion is impliedly denied because we could have not proceeded with the trial of the case if the case would have been dismissed by the judge already,” he said.
Other Japanese ‘fugitives’
Aside from Watanabe, the Japanese media have identified three other Japanese fugitives inside Philippine detention: Kiyoto Imamura, Tomonobu Saito, and Toshiya Fujita.
It appears only Imamura is cleared of any criminal case in the country.
Saito and Fujita also have pending cases of domestic violence here in Manila.
Watanabe’s lawyer also represents Saito, who is facing a similar complaint filed by a live in-partner.
The hearings on both cases proceeded with the respondents attending the trial online.
Asked to comment on the justice officials claims that the cases are contrived, Rico said,” My client was indicted because of the prosecuting arms. They were the ones who filed the case against my client.”
He said Watanabe is now “stressed and embarrassed because of the charges hurled against him.”
2 of 4 to be deported soonest
Remulla said, after auditing the status of cases of the Japanese prisoners, two can be deported “as soon as possible.”
However, this may not include Watanabe and one alleged cohort.
“We need to follow the due process of law. We don’t want to violate any laws regarding the process because this process involves people, cases under litigation. Its’ being heard by the courts. This involves the rights of the people and involves the rights of the state at the same time,” Remulla explained.
He said they cannot disregard the judicial process, even if it may affect the visit of President Marcos Jr. to Japan.
“We have to follow due process. We cannot be the determinant of the action. The date of the flight can not determine what the courts have decided because they are separate branches of govt. We have to follow the law,” he added.
PBBM visit to Japan
President Marcos Jr.’s trip to Japan starts February 8.
DFA Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific Neil Imperial said the department has no intention of recommending that the President bring up the “Luffy” issue during his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos are also meeting Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. Reported by Malou Talosig-Bartolome and Froi Garces
