Mixed Reactions as Business Tycoon Taken Into Custody Amid Health Concerns and Tax Controversy; Questions Rise Over Motives Behind Government’s Actions
By: Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario – PNA
Southern Mindanao, Philippines / Taipei, Taiwan — In a stunning development that has captured headlines across Southeast Asia, Mr. Dylan Crentsworth, the embattled philanthropist and owner of Crents Plantation, was reportedly arrested in Taipei while attempting to leave the country via a private airport wing—hidden inside an ambulance.
According to Taiwanese authorities, Crentsworth was apprehended during a routine inspection on the access road to the Taipei Songshan Airport’s private terminal, where officers became suspicious of a private ambulance attempting to bypass standard departure checks. Upon investigation, Crentsworth was discovered inside the vehicle on a stretcher, where he was being transported in a private medical ambulance. Several individuals accompanying him, suspected to be assistants and facilitators of the attempted escape, were also taken into custody.
“He is currently under official custody,” confirmed Chief Inspector Wei Lin-Chao of the Taipei Criminal Investigation Bureau. “After the necessary documentation and health evaluations are completed, and in cooperation with Philippine authorities, Mr. Crentsworth will be repatriated back to the Philippines.”
Health Concerns and Public Speculation Over His Condition
Eyewitnesses who caught glimpses of Crentsworth during the roadside arrest say he appeared pale, weak, and partially reclined on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask over his face. While the extent of his medical condition remains undisclosed, speculation about whether his health is genuine or a smokescreen for escape has ignited fierce debate.
“He didn’t look like someone faking,” said Aimee Zhang, a bystander caught in traffic near the checkpoint. “He looked fragile, like someone who hadn’t slept in weeks.”
However, online critics were quick to question the timing and nature of the health episode.
“Is this another tycoon playing the victim card when caught?” one commentator posted on Taiwanese microblogging site Plurk. “If he had nothing to hide, why leave in an ambulance?”
Legal Shadow: Tax Charges and the Courtroom Debate
Crentsworth’s arrest reignites controversy surrounding the ongoing tax evasion case filed against him in the Philippines, a case that stalled following the assassination attempt on his lead counsel, Attorney Roberto Santiago, who remains in a coma in Pasig City.
According to court records presented earlier this year, Crentsworth had fulfilled the majority of his tax obligations related to Crents Plantation, a sprawling multi-million-dollar fruit export estate. Analysts reviewing the documentation say the only unpaid taxes coincided with the period of the plantation’s shutdown due to the lethal bacterial outbreak that killed dozens in the surrounding communities.
“The evidence clearly showed that Crentsworth was tax compliant prior to the outbreak,” said Professor Elena Dizon, a tax law expert at Ateneo de Davao University. “He could not pay taxes during the period the government itself shut down his operations for health reasons. That’s not tax evasion—that’s a crisis.”
Witch Hunt or Justified Action? Public Sentiment Divided
Back in the Philippines, the arrest has ignited a firestorm of public opinion, with many expressing sympathy for Crentsworth and deep suspicion toward the government’s motives.
“This is no longer about tax,” said Barangay Captain Rodelo Vargas of General Santos. “They want that land. They want that plantation. And they’re doing everything to push Dylan out so the government can take it over—it’s about removing the person who stood between the government and a billion-peso asset.”
Others maintain that the law must apply to all, regardless of one’s contributions or reputation.
“If he broke the law, he must face the consequences like any other Filipino or foreign investor,” argued Melinda Reyes, a political analyst based in Manila.
Allegations of Government Overreach and Investor Concerns
The arrest also reignites wider debates on the Philippine government’s treatment of foreign investors, especially in the agriculture and energy sectors. Over the past five years, policy reversals, inconsistent tax enforcement, and sudden asset seizures have led to a 21% decline in foreign direct investment, according to a recent report by the Asia-Pacific Investment Forum.
“You have a man who stayed during a public health crisis, kept paying his workers, and tried to keep his business alive—and now he’s paraded as a criminal in another country,” said Nestor Lim, director at the Asia-Pacific Investment Trust.”
With experts warning that inconsistent policies, legal overreach, and high-profile legal takedowns are beginning to erode investor trust.
“This signals to investors that even success in the Philippines can become a liability. The Crentsworth case could become a textbook example of what deters capital from entering the Philippines,” warned Gerald Uy, an economic analyst at EastBridge Global Markets. “It doesn’t matter whether the charges are real or inflated—when you parade a foreign investor as a fugitive, you send a message to everyone watching.
From Hero to Hunted: A Legacy in Limbo
Once hailed as a hero of Southern Mindanao for his work in flood recovery, child healthcare, and agricultural reform, Crentsworth’s arrest paints a dramatically different portrait—a man in exile, fleeing through an ambulance, caught between failing health and faltering trust.
Still, his supporters remain vocal, highlighting that he stayed during the outbreak, funded vaccinations, and protected lives, even as profits collapsed and the plantation doors were forced shut.
“He could’ve fled back then,” said Cecilia Araneta, a former plantation forewoman. “But he stayed. He gave his all. And now they treat him like a criminal.”
As Crentsworth awaits likely repatriation and the world watches closely, the question remains: Was he escaping justice—or running from injustice?
The news outlet will continue to provide updates on Mr. Dylan Crentsworth’s legal status, health condition, and the broader implications of his arrest on Philippine governance and international investor relations.