BI: 3 S. Korean fugitives awaiting deportation

MANILA – Three South Korean fugitives are awaiting deportation, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Friday.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified them as Kim Hyungju, 45; Oh Suhong, 46, and Kim Hyojoong, 44, who were arrested by the bureau's fugitive search unit (FSU) in separate operations in Pampanga and Rizal last month.

He said the three, whose passports were revoked, would be sent back to Seoul as soon as the BI board of commissioners issues the order for their summary deportation.

"They have been placed on our blacklist of undesirable aliens. Thus, they are perpetually banned from re-entering the Philippines for being undesirable aliens," Viado said in a statement.

Kim, who is wanted in South Korea for telecommunications fraud, was arrested at a residence along Pandan-Tabun Road, Angeles City, Pampanga on Sept. 14.

A warrant for his arrest was issued by a Korean court where he was accused of being a member of a voice phishing syndicate that allegedly defrauded its victims of more than 100 million won or more than USD74,000.

Also arrested on the same day along Walking Street, Angeles City was Oh, who is wanted for operating an illegal gambling site on the Internet.

A South Korean court has issued a warrant for Oh's arrest for violating the country's game industry promotion law.

Authorities alleged that sometime in 2021, Oh illegally acquired 40 units of game console, which he installed for online betting by his customers.

On Sept. 19, Kim was arrested by BI-FSU operatives in an Executive Village in Taytay, Rizal. He allegedly earned 73 million won from 23 victims whom he had duped by promising to process their visas while he was employed at the Canada immigration support center in Seoul.

The Korea National Police Agency also reported that Kim faces criminal complaints for blackmail and kidnapping.

The three are detained at the BI custodial facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City. (PNA)