BI nabs 2 Korean fugitives

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported yesterday morning the arrest of two Korean fugitives, one who escaped from detention two years ago while the other one is a tourist who overstayed in the country for 13 years.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the two Koreans as Shin Jaewon, 36, and Park Kwang Soo, 53, who were arrested last week in separate operations conducted by BI’s Intelligence Division.

According to the bureau, Shin was an escaped fugitive and was re-arrested last 27 November inside his hotel room in Cagayan de Oro City, while Park was arrested the following day in his residence in Davao City.

Morente said that the two will be deported to Korea for blatantly violating Philippine immigration laws and as a result their names will be included to the BI blacklisted and banned from re-entering the country.

BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said that Shin, who is wanted in Korea for fraud, has been on the bureau’s list since 17 September 2017 after he escaped from the bureau’s custody and has since been considered a priority suspect.

Shin is detained at the BI detention center in Bicutan, Taguig while securing the clearances for his departure to Korea. The summary deportation order of Shin was already issued by the BI board of commissioners in 2016.

Meanwhile, Manahan said that Park was arrested after an informant tipped the bureau that the Korean national has been overstaying in the country since 2006.

A letter-complaint accusing the Korean of being undesirable and anti-Filipino was reportedly received by the bureau, which prompted Morente to issue a mission order for his arrest.

Manahan added that Park was unable to show his passport and instead presented a fake Philippine postal ID when asked to produce his identification documents by the arresting agents.