Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested an alleged Korean fugitive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while on his way out of the Philippines.
BI intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., said the 31-year-old passenger, identified as Ko Daeyun, was arrested at the NAIA 3 terminal on April 25.
Ko was attempting to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Seoul when he was intercepted by operatives from the BI’s border control and intelligence unit (BCIU).
Upon presenting himself to a BI officer at the immigration departure counter, the officer discovered that Ko's name was on the BI's watchlist of wanted foreign fugitives.
Ko is currently facing a deportation case due to his being a fugitive from justice and has been charged for undesirability before the BI legal division.
Korean authorities said Ko is accused of being a member of a telecommunications fraud syndicate that uses voice phishing to defraud its victims.
The Korean allegedly lured a victim into giving him his debit card, and from October to December 2021, was able to withdraw over half a million won, nearly US$400,000, after promising the victim that the money would earn interest in a lending business.
Ko is currently detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending deportation proceedings.