BI reports sharp rise in fugitive arrests
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday reported a “sharp rise” in the number of foreign fugitives arrested, with the agency recording 268 arrests from January to June this year, a “fourfold increase” from the 69 arrests made in the same period last year.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement that the increase in apprehension reflects the agency’s “intensified efforts to rid the country of undesirable aliens.”
“The Philippines will not be a hiding place for fugitives. We are determined to flush them out and send them back to face justice,” Viado said.
“Our continued cooperation with foreign governments and international law enforcement agencies will ensure that the Philippines remains a secure nation from these fugitives,” he added.
Among those arrested this year was a Korean national, Lee Ji-hwan, on Jan. 8 in Talisay City, Cebu, for violent robbery committed in South Korea, while another Korean, Chu Ho-yong, was captured on Feb. 13 for defrauding fellow Korean nationals 2.26 billion won (P93 million) through investment scams.
The BI also noted that Chu was allegedly linked to telecom fraud operations in the Philippines, and was considered a “high-value target” by Korean authorities.
Four Japanese nationals were also apprehended between January and April this year for allegedly being part of a syndicate whose modus operandi involves impersonating police officers to enter homes and commit robberies.
The BI recalled that seven more Japanese nationals were arrested on May 21 for “similar crimes,” with the group known for targeting the elderly by posing as members of the authorities in order to steal their credit card and banking details.
The agency said that all the captured foreign fugitives will be expelled from the country for being undesirable aliens after undergoing deportation proceedings.
