Wanted Taiwanese national nabbed in Boracay

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A Taiwanese national who’s facing a criminal charge in his home country was arrested late morning of March 7 at Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.

Lee He-Zhan, 26, who hails from Kaohsiung City, was arrested at his billeting place in Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Boracay.

Members of the Bureau of Immigration-Fugitives Search Unit, together with personnel from the Malay Municipal Police Station, arrested the suspect pursuant to BI Mission Order No. 2023-032.

Lee is also the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the Taiwan Ciatou District Prosecutors Office on Nov. 16, 2022.

Lieutenant Colonel Don Dicksie de Dios, Malay police chief, said the suspect is facing a case for violation of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act in Taiwan.

The suspect reportedly arrived on the island five months ago.

“He’s been transferring from one hotel to another while in Boracay,” de Dios said.

The suspect is in the bureau’s custody.

The Boracay police have been keeping a list of foreign visitors in the island in case some of them are fugitives in their home country.

“It’s a conducive hiding place. Sanay makakita ng foreigners ang mga tao and we wouldn’t doubt non-Filipino visitors,” de Dios said.

In 2021, the local police also arrested a Korean national who’s been a fugitive for 13 years already.