BI: South Korean fugitive who escaped rearrested

The high-profile South Korean fugitive who escaped last week has been rearrested, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced Sunday.

At a press conference, BI Commissioner Joel Viado said that Na Ikhyeon was nabbed early Sunday morning in Barangay Pampang in Angeles City, Pampanga through an operation conducted by the BI Fugitive Search Unit and Intelligence Division, in coordination with other authorities.

Na was rearrested along with his South Korean cohort, Kang Changbeom, who allegedly facilitated his escape, as supported by CCTV footage and other intelligence information gathered.

“Verification with the Korean National Police Agency also revealed that Kang is also a fugitive wanted in Korea for fraud,” Viado said.

Na, 28, was arrested in May 2023, but his deportation was delayed due to the estafa case filed against him by a Filipina. During his March 4 hearing, he escaped, prompting a manhunt.

Viado clarified that Na did not escape through a restroom.

“Actually na-establish na po namin na hindi sa CR [comfort room]. Lumabas siya ng building ng Office of the City Prosecutor ng Quezon City kasama ang mga tauhan ng BI at sumakay sa isang BI vehicle,” he told reporters.

(Actually, we have already established that he did not escape through a CR. He left the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City building with BI personnel and boarded a BI vehicle.)

“Ito ay nakatakas sa may Scout Chuatoco… Pumasok ho sa isang establishment at lumabas mula sa building na ‘yun at tumawid papunta sa isang van,” he added.

(He escaped along Scout Chuatoco… He entered an establishment, and went out of the building and crossed the street going to a van.)

Viado said that both Na and Kang will be transferred to the BI detention facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, “but special arrangements will be made for increased security, as they are now tagged as high-risk detainees with intent to escape.”

The BI commissioner pointed out that their current objective is to have both fugitives get deported.

BI employees

Meanwhile, Viado said that two contractual personnel of the BI were immediately terminated following the incident, while the case of the permanent BI employee was brought to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday issued the termination of the permanent employee linked to Na’s escape.

“Nagtanong-tanong po kami sa mga guwardiya sa paligid ng Office of the City Prosecuto. Lumalabas na itong si Mr. Na ay sumakay sa isang sasakyan ng BI, kasama ‘yung tatlo. Doon na po nag-umpisa ‘yung pagtatanong,” Viado said.

(We asked the guards around the Office of the City Prosecutor. It turned out that Mr. Na boarded a BI vehicle, along with the three personnel. That's where the questioning began.)

Viado said criminal complaints have been filed against the three BI employees before the DOJ. They are also facing administrative complaints aside from their termination from office.

Asked if Na bribed the personnel with money to help him escape, he said that they are still looking into the matter.

“Kung may ganyang pangyayari, kailangang malaman po namin at alamin kung sino ang mga nakatanggap at para maparusahan din. Makasuhan at maparusahan. Pero ang inuna po namin ay pag-regain ng custody ni Mr. Na,” he added.

(If there was bribery, we need to know and find out who the recipients were so that they can be punished. They will be charged and punished. But our priority was to first regain custody of Mr. Na). —KG, GMA Integrated News