Nelson Morales

BI details how Korean fugitive Na Ikhyeon managed to escape custody

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — South Korean fugitive Na Ikhyeon, since arrested again by authorities, managed to escape Bureau of Immigration custody with the help of another Korean and of immigration staff, BI Commissioner Joel Viado said Sunday.</p><p>Na, who is wanted for fraud in his home country, was found hiding in a residential area in Barangay Pampang in Angeles City, Pampanga. An accomplice, Kang Changbeom, was also arrested.</p><p>Viado said Na was attending a preliminary investigation at the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City when he slipped away from authorities.</p><p>&quot;Meron po siyang naging ka-kuntsaba na ito ngang si Mr. Kang sa labas na nag-arrange ng sasakyan at  kung ano-ano pang arrangements para sa pagtulong. Ang tawag niya po rito ay isang &#x27;brother&#x27;,&quot; Viado said in a press conference Sunday, March 9. </p><p>(He had an accomplice, this Mr. Kang, outside who arranged the vehicle and made other arrangements to help him escape. Na calls Kang a &#x27;brother&#x27;.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/9/bi-finds-arrests-south-korean-fugitive-who-slipped-out-during-hearing-0934">BI finds, arrests South Korean fugitive who slipped out during hearing</a></div><p>Kang is also wanted in South Korea for fraud.</p><p>Viado added the three Immigration employees aided Na&#x27;s escape. They have been terminated from the service and face administrative and criminal complaints.</p><p>&quot;Lumabas po siya ng building, ng Office of the City Prosecutor ng Quezon City kasama ng mga tauhan ng BI at sumakay sa isang BI vehicle... pumasok po sa isang establisimiyento at lumabas mula sa building na &#x27;yun, at tumawid papunta sa isang van,&quot;  Viado explained.</p><p>(He went out of the building where the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City with the BI personnel and boarded a BI vehicle. They entered an establishment and, from that building, he crossed towards a van)</p><p>The immigration chief said they will interrogate Na on whether he paid off the three sacked immigration employees.</p><p>Na and Kang were arrested as a result of joint efforts of Immigration&#x27;s Fugitive Search Unit and Intelligence Division, Angeles City Police Station 4 Intelligence Unit, PNP-Region 3 Special Operations Unit, PNP-Intelligence Group, and the Naval Intelligence and Security Group Northern Luzon.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/5/bi-says-manhunt-initiated-vs-south-korean-who-fled-from-authorities-1626">BI says manhunt initiated vs South Korean who fled from authorities</a></div><div><strong>SPURIOUS CASES TO DELAY DEPORTATION</strong></div><p>The immigration chief said they are looking into the possibility of Na availing the &quot;Demanda Me&quot; scheme, where cases are filed against foreign nationals to delay their deportation from the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;Meron ho kasing mga tao na very enterprising, ang gagawin po nila, kukuntsaba ng isang tao sa labas na kunwari ay kakasuhan sila let&#x27;s say for estafa. Ngayon po pagka pending po yung kaso na yun, kahit tapos na kami sa immigration investigation... hindi po namin maho-hold in abeyance,&quot; Viado said. </p><p>(There are some very enterprising people who will conspire with someone outside to file criminal complaints, let&#x27;s say estafa, against them. So, while that case is pending, the deportation is held in abeyance)</p><p>He said some foreign nationals they gave arrested &quot;would much rather stay in the Philippines than be deported.&quot;</p><p>The immigration bureai vowed to work on the deportation of the two fugitives as soon as possible.</p><p>Viado issued a warning to fugitives planning to hide in the Philippines, saying they will not be able to evade authorities.</p><p>&quot;Kung tumakas po kayo sa inyong bansa at iisipin niyo na dito ho makakalaya kayo makakatakas, hindi po mangyayari &#x27;yun,&quot; he said.</p><p>(If you flee accountability in your country and think you can move freely here — that will not happen)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vB0dkXNo_so?&amp;t=1s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Na, who is wanted for fraud in his home country, was found hiding in a residential area in Barangay Pampang in Angeles City, Pampanga. An accomplice, Kang Changbeom, was also arrested.</p>

Na, who is wanted for fraud in his home country, was found hiding in a residential area in Barangay Pampang in Angeles City, Pampanga. An accomplice, Kang Changbeom, was also arrested.