The father of Brisbane Broncos NRL star Payne Haas could be sent to Indonesia to face drug charges in a detainee swap with the Philippines involving a former mayor accused of being a Chinese spy.
On Thursday, Indonesia deported Alice Guo, a former Philippine town mayor accused in Manila of helping establish an illegal online gaming and scam centre and evading an investigation by the Philippine Senate.
She was also accused of being a Chinese spy and of faking her Filipino citizenship.
Indonesian police arrested Ms Guo in the outskirts of Jakarta on Tuesday.
She denies wrongdoing.
In exchange, Indonesian authorities hope that the Philippines will send Australian Gregor Johann Haas, who was arrested in central Philippines in May.
The Bureau of Immigration in Manila said Mr Haas was "a high-profile fugitive for being an alleged member of the Sinaloa cartel, a large international organised crime syndicate based in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico that specialises in drug trafficking and money laundering activities".
Indonesian authorities have alleged that in December last year he tried to smuggle a shipment of floor ceramics filled with more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine into Indonesia.
Under Indonesian law, he could face the death penalty by firing squad.
Chief of the Indonesian international division of the national police, Khrisna Murti, said on Wednesday that "exchange efforts are still being negotiated" over the return the Australian.
Asked about the reported detainee swap, Indonesian ambassador to Manila Agus Widjojo told the state-run People's Television Network on Thursday that "the talks have only just started".
A Philippine official told the AP news agency on condition of anonymity that Australia was concerned that Mr Haas could face the death penalty if he is repatriated to Indonesia.
According to a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson, the department is providing consular assistance to an Australian man arrested in the Philippines.
"Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," the spokesperson said.
"Australia opposes the death penalty in all circumstances for all people, and we will continue to advocate for its universal abolition."
Ex-mayor spent months on the run
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr thanked Indonesia for the arrest of Ms Guo, who was elected in 2022 as mayor of the rural town of Bamban in Tarlac province north of Manila.
She denied wrongdoing but was dismissed from her post for grave misconduct by the Philippine ombudsman.
After leaving the Philippines in July, she was tracked in Malaysia and Singapore before turning up in Indonesia.
Two companions, who reportedly slipped out of the Philippines with her, were recently arrested in Indonesia and immediately deported to the Philippines.
In July, the Philippine president ordered a ban on widespread and mostly Chinese-run online gaming operations, accusing them of involvement in human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murder.
AP/ABC
