Senate to probe BI involvement in South Korean fugitive’s escape

The Senate justice and human rights subcommittee will investigate the Bureau of Immigration’s alleged involvement in the escape of a high-profile South Korean fugitive, its chairperson Senator Risa Hontiveros said Monday. 

In a statement, Hontiveros said the CCTV footage confirmed that Na Ikhyeon was able to run away with the help of BI personnel. 

“Kumpirmado nga ang CCTV: hindi lang basta nakatakas ang puganteng Koreano mula sa Bureau of Immigration, sadya siyang pinatakas,” she said. 

(The CCTV has confirmed it: the Korean fugitive did not just escape from the Bureau of Immigration; he was deliberately assisted in his escape.) 

CCTV footage allegedly showed BI officers aiding the escape of Na Ikhyeon after he attended a hearing for an estafa case at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on March 4.

While Na was rearrested, Hontiveros said that it is still bothering that the manhunt was launched only after the information on his escape was made public. 

“This is symptomatic of the failures and offenses of the BI in handling erring foreign nationals. Mukhang hindi mawala-wala ang kultura ng korapsyon sa ahensya,” the senator quipped. 

(It seems that the culture of corruption within the agency is persistent and hard to eradicate.)

“We will pursue this at the next Subcommittee hearing. Ipapa-subpoena ko ang mga CCTV footage, kasama na ang CCTV sa loob ng Pegasus, dahil posibleng doon nagkaroon ng transaksyon,” she added. 

(I will issue a subpoena on the CCTV footage, including the CCTV footage inside Pegasus where the supposed transaction happened.)

Hontiveros also called on BI Commissioner Joel Viado to ensure that the immigration officers involved in what she called a “shameful incident” be imposed with the strictest penalties, including criminal liability under Article 223 of the Revised Penal Code. 

Article 223 of the RPC provides penalties against public officers who consent to the escape of a prisoner in his custody.

“Magkaroon naman sana ng konting hiya itong mga kawani ng gobyerno,” she ended.

The Senate subcommittee on justice and human rights is currently investigating the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Alice Guo last year. 

Last week, Viado ordered the immediate dismissal of personnel allegedly involved in the escape of Na. 

Criminal complaints have already filed against the implicated BI staff with the Department of Justice after the recovery of the CCTV footage and the testimonies that suggested possible collusion, Viado said. 

Na is wanted in South Korea for fraud, luring victims into investing in non-existent accounts before withdrawing the funds for personal gain.

The 28-year-old fugitive was arrested in May 2023, but his deportation was delayed due to the estafa case filed against him by a Filipina. 

Na escaped on March 4 while attending a hearing.

Last March 5, Hontiveros issued a statement raising an alarm on the South Korean fugitive’s escape from BI. —AOL, GMA Integrated News