IN line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen national security under the Bagong Pilipinas campaign, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported a sharp rise in the number of foreign fugitives arrested during the first half of 2025.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the surge in arrests reflects the agency’s intensified efforts to rid the country of undesirable aliens.
“The Philippines will not be a hiding place for fugitives. We are determined to flush them out and send them back to face justice,” said Viado.
Based on a report from BI fugitive search unit (FSU) Chief Rendel Ryan Sy, the agency recorded 268 arrests from January to June—marking a nearly fourfold increase from the 69 apprehensions made in the same period last year.
Among those apprehended was Korean national Lee Jihwan, arrested on January 8 in Talisay City, Cebu, for a violent robbery in South Korea. Authorities said Lee and his accomplice attacked a victim with a hand axe and forced him to transfer KRW 10 million to their account. Another Korean national, Chu Hoyong, was captured on February 13 for defrauding victims of KRW 2.26 billion using fake real estate collateral. He is considered a high-value target by Korean authorities and is allegedly linked to telecom fraud operations in the Philippines.
Between January and April, four Japanese nationals believed to be members of the “Luffy” syndicate, were arrested being wanted in their home country for theft. Allegedly, their modus was to impersonate police officers to gain entry into homes and carry out robberies.
On May 21, seven more Japanese nationals connected to the “JP Dragon” syndicate were apprehended for similar crimes. The group is known for targeting elderly victims by posing as authorities and stealing their ATM cards and banking details. The syndicate’s alleged leader, Ryuji Yoshioka, was also nabbed on June 4 in Angeles City, Pampanga.
All arrested individuals will undergo deportation proceedings and are to be expelled from the country for being undesirable aliens.
“Our continued cooperation with foreign governments and international law enforcement agencies will ensure that the Philippines remains a secure nation from these fugitives,” said Viado. “These efforts are part of the Bagong Immigration tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas framework. We remain strong, strategic, and steadfast in upholding the law,” he added
