THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested two South Koreans wanted in their country for telecom and financial fraud.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the foreigner as Lee Choungeon, 43, and Kim Seongku, 45.
Lee and Kim were arrested in Metro Manila during two separate operations conducted by members of the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).
Morente said Lee, who was arrested Monday morning, will be sent back to Korea.
An order for his summary deportation was already issued by the BI board of commissioners.
Lee reportedly attempted to extend his tourist visa at the BI’s main office in Intramuros, Manila but immigration officers discovered his derogatory records in their system.
This prompted them to coordinate with FSU operatives to effect the arrest.
A warrant of deportation has been issued against Lee last December 3, 2021 following information from Korean authorities.
Records of the Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila show that Lee is a subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Daejeon District Court in Hongsung, South Korea issued on April 2020.
He was susoected to be a member of a syndicate that defrauds people of money through voice phishing.
On the other hand, Kim was arrested inside a Pasig City condominium complex on Tuesday.
Kim has an arrest warrant from the Seoul Central District Court issued on April 1, 2022 due to charges of electronic fraud.
Authorities said Kim allegedly hacked into his victim's block chain account and stole crypto currencies and bitcoins worth over ₱613 million.
Both Koreans are detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation.