February 1, 2023(AseanAll)—The Philippines' justice department says it intends to repatriate the four Japanese nationals, who are believed to be linked to a series of robberies in Japan, at the same time.

According to NHK，a department spokesperson spoke with reporters on January 31, 2023. He said that Japan wants the four men to be deported together. He said that the Philippines will comply with the request, even if preparations have only been completed for some of the suspects.

Japanese police officials have served the men with arrest warrants, as they believe the individuals were previously involved in phone scams in Japan. On January 30, they officially asked the authorities in the Philippines to hand them over.

The four suspects are currently being held at an immigration facility in the Philippines. Three of them are currently on trial. Court hearings regarding two of the cases are scheduled to be held this week.

The spokesperson said that it will be possible to schedule the handover of the suspects, once all the cases have been dismissed.

The Philippine government has expressed its intention to settle the matter before Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits Japan next week.

Meanwhile,  0n January 31 Philippine police and immigration authorities confiscated nearly 10 smartphones at the immigration facility, where the four suspects are being held.

They also confiscated PCs, wireless routers and 500,000 pesos in cash. That is about 9,000 dollars.

Philippine authorities say they plan to tighten measures at immigration facilities. They say they suspect that officials at the sites have been allowing inmates to use smartphones, in exchange for bribes.