NBI to form special task force to hunt Korean criminals, help victims

Metro Manila, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will form a special task force to arrest Korean criminals and help Korean victims of illegal activities.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said he made the proposal after meeting with Korean embassy officers, who expressed concern amid growing crimes against their nationals.

“Natatakot na sila, rampant na, dumadami na ‘yung naho-holdap na Koreano, naki-kidnap, napapatay. So, naaalarma na ang Korean embassy,” Santiago said in a press conference on Friday, May 23.

[Translation: They fear the rampant and rising cases of robbery, kidnapping, and murder. So, the Korean embassy is alarmed.]

“I’m addressing this to our friends from the Korean embassy that talagang [really] we are working hard para matulungan sila at ‘yung mga [to help them and address the] cases involving Korean, whether victim sila o sila ang gumagawa ay mahaharap namin [or they are the perpetrators],” the director assured.

Korean embassy Consul General Sang Seung-man earlier appealed to Malacanang to ensure the safety of their nationals. The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission proposed to strengthen the Tourist Security Desk among others.

Korean fugitive arrested

Meanwhile, the NBI presented to the media a Korean fugitive for kidnapping and serious physical injury who was arrested in Pasay.

Jang Seong-woong, an alleged gang member in Daegu, Korea, committed the crime in April 2017 and fled to the Philippines a month after with a tourist visa. He renewed his stay until 2020 only after a warrant of deportation was issued against him.

He swindled fellow Koreans in the country.

“Usually, ‘yung scheme ng gan’tong mga fraudsters na Koreans is nag-aalok po sila ng investment. Kumukuha po sila ng pera sa kapwa nila Koreano, nangako na kikita sa investment na ito at kalaunan ay tatakasan po nila,” Bureau of Immigration Fugitive Search Unit Chief Rendel Sy said.

[Translation: Usually, the scheme of these Korean fraudsters is to offer investment. They get money from their fellow Koreans, promising that it will grow through the investment and then, they will eventually evade them.]

Based on the investigation, Jang was working in a casino junket.