Team DailyPedia
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has confirmed that Yexel Sebastian, a well-known toy collector, and his wife, Mikee Agustin, departed for Japan on Monday amidst an ongoing investigation into their alleged involvement in a ₱200 million investment scam.
According to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, no motions or cases have been filed against the couple at this time.
The confirmation came after Senator Raffy Tulfo inquired about the couple’s flight during a committee hearing. Tulfo expressed concerns about whether they were attempting to evade authorities or recruit more investors in Nagoya, Japan.
Tulfo remarked, “Hindi ko alam kung ito’y tumatakas na o baka pumunta sa Nagoya para mag-recruit na naman ng investors. Is there any way na mapigilan? Ewan ko lang sa Immigration. Meron naman palang balita na kalat na kalat na na ito ay marami na nai-scam.”
Secretary Boying Remulla explained that only the Department of Justice (DOJ) has the authority to issue an immigration lookout bulletin, and a court-issued hold departure order is necessary to prevent someone from leaving the country.
Reports about Sebastian and Agustin’s alleged investment scheme surfaced when overseas Filipino workers brought their concerns to Tulfo’s public affairs show. Complaints regarding the ₱200 million investments solicited from the public quickly gained traction on social media.
According to Tulfo, complaints related to the case have already been filed with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), signaling the start of an official investigation into the matter.
