Top South Korean fugitive captured in Philippines

Agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested South Korea's alleged Number 1 fugitive at a casino in Angeles City, Pampanga.

 

A report on GMA News' Balitanghali identified the suspect as Lee Sang Te.

 

BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said the fugitive was arrested after a six-year manhunt.

 

"Hindi po talaga naging madali, kailangan nating pag-isipan, pag-ingatan dahil alam natin na ito ay marami rin pong nakabantay sa kanya," BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said.

 

BI officials said Lee was ranked first in South Korea's order of fugitives.

 

The suspect is facing charges for robbery, physical injuries, and other crimes.

 

The BI said that the South Korean fugitive entered the country in 2009 and made a hotel in Pampanga as his base of operations in Central Luzon.

 

Lee allegedly had links with Korean mafia that has members in the Philippines.

 

The suspect is called "Tatay" by the group's members.

 

Lee denied that he has links with the Korean mafia.

 

The suspect will be deported back to South Korea.

 

"Pursuant to our 'good guys in, bad guys out' policy, we want these bad guys to be out of the country at the soonest possible time dahil hindi po natin sila gusto dito sa ating bansa," Tan said. —Rie Takumi/ALG, GMA News