Gov't seeks speedy extradition of Chingkoes

Noted & Quoted in: The Philippine Daily Inquirer INQ7.net

Noted & Quoted by: Nelson F. Flores

Editor's Note: Published on page A9 of the April 9, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

inQ7.net

Villa-Ignacio said extradition proceedings were initiated against the Chingkoes in 2003 but have yet to progress.

Chingkoe, who headed the 11-member Chingkoe group of companies, allegedly masterminded a massive tax fraud that defrauded the government of billions of pesos.

If found guilty of criminal charges already filed before the Sandiganbayan, Chingkoe would be liable to return more than P131 million.

Villa-Ignacio said that after the Chingkoes, the government needed to work on the extradition of the members of the family of former Armed Forces comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia who are in the United States.

"We want them all back to face justice in our courts," he said.

According to Villa-Ignacio, the Chingkoe family has been reported to be busily investing in Richmond, British Columbia, a sign that they intended to make their stay in Canada permanent.

Despite opposition from government prosecutors, the Sandiganbayan 4th Division chaired by Associate Justice Gregory Ong granted Chingkoe's petition to travel abroad, specifically to Hong Kong, the United States and Canada from March 16 up to April 16, subject to certain conditions.

The court also previously allowed Chingkoe to leave for Canada to attend a daughter's graduation.

Among the conditions required by the court was that Chingkoe adhere strictly to his declared itinerary and his posting of a P2.5-million travel bond. He was also required to report to the court within five days after returning to the country.

Government lawyers had argued that they did not believe that Chingkoe would return to face the criminal charges against him. They said Chingkoe was a holder of Canadian, Korean, Fijian and Philippine passports, clearly making him a flight risk.

"I suspect he has already completed the groundwork for his flight," Villa-Ignacio said.

The prosecutor cited reports in the March 26 to April 6, 2005 issue of the Asian Pacific Post newspaper saying that "Chingkoe and Gloria Eng Eng Chingkoe had fled to Richmond where they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars buying up real estate."

He said the reports also showed that the Chingkoes "were residing at Tolmie St. in Richmond in a house worth C$500,000."

"The couple had also invested in several other properties on Westminster highway and on Alderbridgeway in Richmond, according to property records," Villa-Ignacio said.

The paper, Villa-Ignacio said, claimed that British Columbia has an international reputation for being a safe haven for some of Asia's most wanted persons.

Among them are China's most wanted, Lai Changxing, who is trying to gain refugee status in Canada. China alleged that Lai Changxing and his wife Tsang Mingna headed a multi-billion-dollar smuggling and corruption ring, allegedly the largest illegal operation in China's history.