4 Vietnamese barred from entering PH; 2 Korean fugitives deported —BI

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) barred the entry into the country of four Vietnamese suspected of posing as tourists to seek illegal employment. Two Korean fugitives meanwhile were deported.

In a news release, the BI said it intercepted Vietnamese passengers Truong Quang Than, 28; Bui Van Chi, 36; Ngo Dan Tuong, 22; and Nguyen Hoang Minh Huy, 19, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after they arrived via a Philippine Airlines flight from Hanoi.

The Vietnamese claimed to be traveling for tourism purposes but a second inspection showed they had inconsistent statements.

One of them admitted to have worked in a catering business during his previous stay in the country, without securing a proper visa.

The BI placed the foreigners under the country’s immigration blacklist.

“Our country is a no-go zone for those who use tourism as a cover for such schemes. Aliens who attempt to enter to abuse the country’s hospitality will be denied entry,” said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

2 Korean fugitives deported

Meanwhile, immigration authorities said two South Korean fugitives wanted for electronic financial fraud in their country were deported.

Suspects Kwon Hyuckkeun, 41, and You Hyun Tea, 53, were deported to Incheon, South Korea via a Korean Air flight on August 21.

“Our counterparts in Seoul were informed about their impending arrival there. Korean policemen apprehended them upon their arrival,” said Tansingco.

The fugitives were already ordered deported as early 2021 for being undesirable aliens and being fugitives from justice.

Red notices issued by the Interpol revealed that the duo are subjects of criminal cases accusing them of violating Korea’s electronic financial transactions act.

Based on an investigation, You allegedly conspired with an accomplice to operate an illegal sports gambling site on the Internet.

Kwon allegedly operated a call center that employed voice phishing to defraud victims who were duped into sending their debit cards to the suspects who promised their money would yield profits in low-interest loan transactions.

The suspects allegedly managed to borrow money from their victims who were promised 30% of their profit but were instead defrauded of more than 100 million won, or about US$82,000.

The two were arrested by immigration operatives in May and June this year, respectively.

Both Koreans were placed on the immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the country. —Sundy Locus/KG, GMA Integrated News