MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported Chinese fugitive Shi Chunfang, 40, on December 22 after authorities in China requested his immediate removal over kidnapping charges.

Shi boarded a Xiamen Air flight bound for Jinjiang, where he was immediately taken into custody by Chinese authorities. The Chinese Embassy formally thanked the BI for facilitating Shi’s deportation, which will allow law enforcement in China to proceed with criminal cases against him.

Shi was arrested by BI operatives on December 14 in a residential area in Taytay, Rizal, after confirming that he was the subject of a 2024 warrant of arrest issued by the Public Security Bureau of Jinjiang City. The embassy also informed the BI that Shi’s passport had been canceled, rendering him an undocumented alien under Philippine immigration laws.

Records showed Shi was on a blacklist order issued in January and a watchlist order issued in July for being an undesirable alien, following BI verification of his crimes abroad. He was previously linked to a suspected drug laboratory in Rizal, which temporarily halted his earlier deportation.

Arrested with him was Shuguang Fan, 37, who had been ordered to leave the country in 2023 due to his prolonged and unexplained stay.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that while an expedited deportation was initially sought, it was temporarily deferred to coordinate with the Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police to determine possible local criminal liability.

He added, “The Bureau ensured that due process was observed and that all coordination with concerned agencies was completed before the deportation was carried out.” On the date of deportation, the Philippine National Police confirmed Shi had no pending cases, allowing the BI to proceed.

Following the deportation, Shi has been added to the BI’s blacklist, effectively barring him from reentering the Philippines.