Photo: Screenshot from the official WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines

A key Red Notice fugitive surnamed Hao, suspected of duty-related crime, was successfully apprehended and repatriated through law enforcement cooperation between China and the Philippines under the framework of Interpol, Chinese Embassy in the Philippines stated on its official WeChat account on Thursday.

The amount involved in the case of Hao reached approximately 970 million yuan ($137 million), according to the Embassy. 

This marks another positive achievement in China-Philippines law enforcement cooperation, the Embassy said.

China-Philippines joint law enforcement has substantial room for cooperation in combating cross-border illegal activities, covering areas ranging from telecom fraud and illegal gambling to cross-border kidnapping, Ge Hongliang, Vice Dean of the ASEAN College at Guangxi Minzu University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

During then Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian's meeting with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, chairman of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), in early July this year, the two sides held in-depth discussions on China-Philippines law enforcement cooperation and related matters, agreeing to maintain coordination and collaboration in combating transnational criminal activities, according to the Embassy's official WeChat account.

Over 30 Chinese nationals involved in offshore gambling activities in the Philippines were repatriated from the country on December 12, 2024, making it the fourth batch of repatriations carried out through China-Philippines law enforcement cooperation since the Philippine government announced a comprehensive ban on the offshore gambling industry, according to the Embassy.

Ge said joint law enforcement could serve as a positive factor in improving China-Philippines relations, potentially contributing to the enhancement of bilateral ties. 

He said, however, that to fundamentally reverse the current situation, the crux lies in the Philippines' attitude and actions toward the South China Sea issue.