Immigration bureau to deport 2 South Korean fugitives

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is poised to deport two South Korean fugitives, who are said to be involved in fraudulent activities and smuggling, the agency announced Monday.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said their Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) arrested Oh Gwangrok, 48, in Manila; and Park Seungjae, 44, in Mandaluyong, respectively.

Morente said the two Korean nationals are currently detained at the BI’s detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City while awaiting deportation.

“We are sending them back to Korea where they are wanted by authorities for serious offenses,” the BI chief said in a statement on Sunday.

“The Philippines is not a sanctuary for foreign criminals,” he added.

Immigration operatives arrested Oh in the vicinity of Remedios Circle in Malate, Manila on March 4 on the strength of a warrant of deportation.

The warrant, BI said, was pursuant to a summary deportation order issued by the BI Board of Commissioners against Oh last November 21, 2018 for overstaying in the country and for holding an expired passport.

Oh has been overstaying in the country since July 2012, BI added.

The Korean embassy, according to BI, said Oh has been wanted for fraud involving $48,000 and for embezzling a victim’s car worth $41,000.

Meanwhile, BI arrested Park inside his residence in Mandaluyong on March 5.

Park, who is considered an undocumented alien for holding an expired passport, is reportedly wanted for smuggling and violating his country’s customs law.

The Korean national allegedly smuggled 11 types of counterfeits, including Federal Reserve bonds worth $500 million, in violation of an import prohibition on forged currency, bond or stock.

Park, BI noted, has failed to extend his stay as a tourist since arriving here in the Philippines in December 2017. /kga