De Lima: I hope Taiwan drops threats vs OFWs

Amid a diplomatic row with Taipei over the deportation of Taiwan nationals to mainland China by Philippine immigration officials, Justice Secrertary Leila de Lima on Thursday said she is optimistic that Taiwan's threat to retaliate against Filipino workers will not materialize. The fate of some 80,000 Filipino migrant workers in Taiwan may be affected because of "the unpleasant incident," Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the Philippines, Donald Lee, said in a press briefing Wednesday. "Taiwan is an important partner not only in trade and investments but also in our war against international crime syndicates. I am optimistic that the Taiwanese leadership will see the wisdom behind our move to deport the suspects to China [the People's Republic of China, or PROC]," De Lima said in a statement. The Justice Department supervises the Bureau of Immigration, which deported the Taiwanese nationals to the PROC. Last December, the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation arrested 14 Taiwanese and 10 mainland Chinese who were supposedly engaged in a multi-million dollar criminal activity using the Internet and mobile gadgets. The arrests were made upon Beijing's request. The 24 foreigners were then later deported to the PROC on Feb. 2, despite attempts by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) officials and lawyers to have them brought to Taiwan instead as the 14 were actually Taiwanese. On Wednesday, Taiwan recalled Lee the TECO special representative. It added that the deportation row may adversely impact some 80,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan. (See: Taiwan recalls envoy to PHL over 14 deportees) No apologies But on Thursday, De Lima did not issue an apology and maintained that the Taiwanese nationals were rightfully deported to mainland China. "The Philippine government has decided that deportation to [China] will ensure that the suspected criminal elements are successfully prosecuted. It is also consistent with our national interest that we protect our country and citizens from undesirable aliens," she said. "The prosecution of suspects in China for the crime of estafa or similar offenses is the best option since the victims are all residents of that country. Testimonies and presentation of evidence against the suspects will therefore be done more expeditiously," she added.—JV/VS, GMA News