Government agents successfully re-arrested South Korean fugitive Na Ikhyeon, who was taken back into custody just five days after his escape in Quezon City on March 4, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Viado said yesterday.
The three BI officers who aided the escape have been dismissed, according to Viado.
Na’s apprehension was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit and Intelligence Division, in partnership with the Angeles City Police Station, Regional Special Operations Unit PRO 3, PNP-Intelligence Group, and the Naval Intelligence and Security Group of Northern Luzon.
Also arrested was his cohort, another fugitive wanted in South Korea identified as Kang Changbeom.
The BI chief said investigations revealed that Kang aided Na’s escape, as supported by CCTV footage and other intelligence information gathered by authorities.
The same CCTV footage showed that the BI personnel assigned to accompany Na to court facilitated his escape.
“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,” Viado told reporters.
“He escaped along Scout Chuatoco… He entered an establishment, and went out of the building and crossed the street going to a van,” he added.
The BI chief said they will interrogate Na on whether he paid off his BI escorts, who have already been sacked.
Both fugitives will be transferred to the BI detention facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Due to their propensity for escaping, specific measures will be implemented to enhance security, as they are now classified as high-risk detainees with a potential intent to flee, Viado said.
The swift and decisive actions taken by the BI and the DOJ in this case demonstrate the unrelenting efforts of the agency to uphold justice and maintain the integrity of its operations, he said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Immigration captures fugitives after manhunt”