PAMPANGA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP), on Monday, December 2, clarified that the recent operation involving the deportation and turnover of two fugitives from the Philippines and Indonesia is not a prison swap but part of an international cooperation agreement between the two countries.
PNP spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jean Fajardo told Rappler that the operation was not a prisoner swap, and that it was conducted as part of mutual obligations between the Philippines and Indonesia.
Filipino casino scammer Hector Pantollana, and Handoyo Salman, an Indonesian wanted in Indonesia for crimes related to gambling and money laundering, were deported on November 27 and 22, respectively.
Salman, also known as “Ahan,” was apprehended at the recently raided Central One Bataan in Bagac, Bataan. The Indonesian police attaché coordinated with the PNP due to an existing warrant. Salman was subsequently deported to Indonesia and handed over to the custody of the Indonesian police.
Salman reportedly managed several online gambling websites, including W88, which oversees the operations and marketing practices of online gambling activities within Indonesia. He operates under the authority of a Chinese national, who serves as his superior, according to its case report.
Central One has been temporarily closed since November following a raid by the PNP and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. Its employees are currently on “floating status” pending a final decision from the government.
Pantollana, on the other hand, was apprehended by Indonesian authorities on November 9. The Philippine police attaché coordinated with Indonesian police, and held a meeting on November 26. Pantollana was officially turned over to the PNP on November 27, and then arrived back in the Philippines on November 28.
“So wala naman talaga, hindi naman prisoner swap yun kasi we have this existing memorandum of understanding with our foreign counterparts pag kailangan natin ng assistance,” Fajardo said.
(So, there is no swap. It was not a prisoner swap as we have an existing memorandum of understanding with our foreign counterparts whenever we need their assistance.)
Pantollana is facing multiple warrants of arrest for estafa and syndicated estafa following his deportation by Indonesian authorities. These warrants were issued by various Regional Trial Courts including in Pasay City, Mandaluyong City, Bacoor City in Cavite, and Calauag in Quezon province, as well as Iligan City and Baguio City.
Fajardo said the complaints against Pantollana include 14 counts of violation of the Securities Regulation Code with penalties of P126,000 each. The cases in Iligan and Baguio for syndicated estafa are non-bailable.
Fajardo added that around 50 to 60 additional complaints were reported against Pantollana as of Monday morning, with many more complainants continuing to come forward and additional cases are also expected.
“Nakakulong siya sa CIDG dahil kaninang umaga, maraming dumating na additional complainant, nasa around 50 to 60 ang dumating sa CIDG. So marami pang complainant ang dumadating. We expect na madadagdagan ito dahil marami pang pumupuntang complainants,” he said.
(He was detained at the CIDG because additional complainants, around 50 to 60, arrived this morning. Many more are expected. We anticipate that the number of complaints will increase.)
Pantollana is currently in the custody of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at the Anti-Organized Crime Unit facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City. – Rappler.com