Indian ‘fugitive arrested in Bacolod City

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – An Indian national was arrested on Monday after about two years of hiding in the Philippines.

Police identified the suspect as 40-year-old Joginder Geong, alias “Joginder Geyong,” who was also using the fake name Kant Gupta with a fraudulent Nepalese passport.

Police Captain Dax Santillan, head of Police Station 6, said the suspect was arrested at his rented house in Barangay Taculing around 5:18 p.m.

The Bureau of Immigration issued a mission order for the arrest of Geong for violating the Philippine Immigration Law, Commonwealth Act No. 613, as an undesirable alien.

Based on a police report, the suspect is an alleged notorious criminal with a history of serious offenses such as murder, attempted murder, extortion, and robbery in India.

He also allegedly led an organized crime syndicate and has been sentenced to life imprisonment for violating arms laws in India, according to the police.

The Bureau of Immigration received an official communication from the Embassy of India in Manila on June 22, requesting the arrest and deportation of Geong, who was hiding in the country.

Additionally, there are allegations linking him to a terrorist group, but the local police have no details about this allegation.

Santillan said the suspect had been in the Philippines since 2022 and had opened a small business. It took authorities more than two weeks to monitor the suspect, with the help of the intelligence community.

Despite his background, Santillan said the suspect had not been involved in any crime in the city. The suspect was turned over to the custody of the Bureau of Immigration.

Meanwhile, another Indian national was wounded after being shot by an unidentified person at Purok 7, Barangay Poblacion 1, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday night.

Based on a police report, the 36-year-old victim was riding his motorcycle from his house to the city proper when he stopped to answer a phone call.

The suspect then suddenly emerged from a dimly-lit area and shot him several times. The victim suffered gunshot wounds in his left leg and both arms.

Police recovered a live round and four spent cartridge cases from a .45 caliber firearm at the scene.

The victim was rescued by another Indian national who happened to pass by and was taken to Lopez District Farmers Hospital in Sagay City, later being referred to a private hospital in Bacolod City.