Japan lauds PH response to deport suspects in 'Luffy' heists

The Japanese embassy on Wednesday lauded the Philippine government's "constructive" response and cooperation on the deportation of its citizens involved in organized robberies across Japan.

Manila deported on Tuesday morning two of four Japanese suspects Toshiya Fujita and Kiyoto Imamura to Japan. Two others—the alleged mastermind Yuki Watanabe and Kojima Tomonobu—will be sent back late Wednesday night.

"On January 30, the Government of Japan made anew request of early deportation of four Japanese detained at the Bureau of Immigration. We appreciate the constructive response and cooperation of the related agencies of the Philippines government to realize deportation of two of them," said embassy media relations officer Hitomi Akihiko in a statement sent to GMA News Online.

The deportation took place four years after Japan made its first request to send back the detainees in 2019.

Philippine officials said a swift deportation and resolution of the matter would ensure that there would be no "distractions" when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes his first visit to Japan from February 8 to 12 since assuming the presidency in June last year.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said one of the suspects is using the alias "Luffy," a character in the Japanese manga "One Piece."

"Tomorrow, Luffy will be coming home to Japan," Remulla told reporters.

The four Japanese citizens who are also said to be orchestrating telephone scams, allegedly directed a series of robberies in Japan while detained in a Philippines immigration holding facility.

Japanese police have obtained arrest warrants against them.

The four detainees were reportedly involved in at least 14 robberies across several Japanese prefectures and the murder of a 90-year-old woman in a suburb in Tokyo, garnering national attention in Japan.

Remulla said Philippine authorities have confiscated 24 communication devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and chargers, from the detainees.

The gadgets have been turned over to Japanese authorities on Tuesday afternoon, Remulla added.

Escorted back to Japan by nine Japanese police escorts, Fujita and Imamura, both 38, were seen in photos released by the Philippine Immigration bureau wearing handcuffs, light blue shorts, navy shirt, and bulletproof vests.

Watanabe and Tomonobu, meanwhile, will be accompanied by seven Japanese policemen when they board Japan Airlines flight JL078 at 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

The two remaining detainees have been cleared for deportation on Tuesday after a local court dismissed the cases against them.

Citing a recent meeting with Japanese officials, Remulla said they had been  "satisfied" that the Philippine government was "able to act with dispatch."

"The request was in 2019. It took us only 11 days to finalize the proceedings," he said. —NB, GMA Integrated News