By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday reported the recent arrest of an overstaying South Korean national wanted by international authorities for kidnapping and beating a compatriot five years ago.
In a belated report, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the fugitive as Jang Seongwoong, 47, who was arrested in Pasay City on May 22 by the fugitive search unit (FSU).
Viado said the foreigner has been on the BI’s wanted list since 2021, when he was ordered deported for being an undesirable alien.
“He was thus arrested on the strength of a deportation warrant which was issued pursuant to the said deportation order. He was included in our blacklist which perpetually bans him from reentering the country,” he said of Jang.
A check on Jang’s travel records showed that he has been hiding in the Philippines since May 1, 2017, when he last arrived as a tourist.
According to BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy, Jang is also subject of a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued in July 2019.
Prior to the Interpol notice, a warrant for Jang’s arrest was issued by the Daegu district court in South Korea for serious physical injury and kidnapping.
Authorities alleged that Jang and his cohorts detained and severely beat their victim, who owe them gambling bets, using a baseball bat that caused the latter to suffer multiple body injuries.
Jang is detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while awaiting deportation. (PNA)
