Rizal Balgos will be deported to the US to stand trial for his crimes

Rizal Balgos, 60, who is now detained at the BI detention center in Bicutan after hiding in the country for more than two years.Balgos was arrested last March 6 by operatives of the BI law enforcement division in front of his residence in Barangay Macate, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya.Earlier, Libanan issued the mission order for Balgos’ arrest at the request of the US embassy in Manila.“Like all the other fugitives that we have captured, he, too, will be deported to the US to stand trial for his crimes,” the BI chief said, even as he vowed to continue without the letup the BI’s campaign against foreign fugitives believed to be hiding in the country.
According to BI Associate Commissioner Enrique Galang, Balgos was issued an arrest warrant by the US District Court in Hawaii in 2007 for narcotics distribution.
Galang, who is also the commissioner-in charge on law enforcement, said Balgos was implicated in a corruption case involving officers of the Kauai police department who allegedly protected and conspired with him in his drug dealing activities.

Citing information provided by the US embassy, Galang said the police officers made sure that Balgos’ drug dealing activities were not interrupted as he was always informed in advance of forthcoming searches and arrests of known drug lairs and suspects.

This arrangement between Balgos and his police protectors reportedly lasted from 2004 until 2006 when the law enforcement corruption case was uncovered.Balgos, however, fled the US to the Philippines a few months before the Hawaii court issued the warrant for his arrest.A check of the BI’s travel information database revealed that the Balgos is an overstaying alien as he arrived in the Philippines on Aug. 20, 2006 and did not bother to extend his stay in the country.It was also gathered that Balgos is also an undocumented alien as his passport was already canceled by the US government.