2 detained South Koreans under probe for 'demanda me' scheme
Two detained South Korean fugitives are now under investigation for allegedly employing the “demanda me” (sue me) scheme to avoid immediate deportation, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said he received a report from the bureau’s Deportation Implementation Unit (DIU) which disclosed that the “two fugitives have been sued.”
“Authorities are now investigating whether such ‘demanda me’ or ‘sue me’ cases are legitimate legal remedies or deliberate attempts at delaying deportation or mode of extortion,” Viado said.
He did not identify the two South Korean fugitives.
Immediate deportation is shelved for foreigners found to be undesirable aliens and have pending cases before Philippine courts until the court cases are resolved.
Viado said the issue on “demanda me” scheme has been forwarded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) which has assured its assistance in quick solutions of frivolous cases filed against deportees.
Meanwhile, the BI confirmed the deportation of 49 South Korean fugitives on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
“Today’s deportees are all subjects of summary deportations after being tagged by the South Korean government as fugitives from justice,” Viado said.
The deportees have been flagged by the BI as undesirable aliens and their names have been included in the bureau’s blacklist, he also said.
Those deported have been charged in South Korea with illegal gambling, large-scale fraud, embezzlement, online scamming, and other financial crimes.