A South Korean fugitive wanted for fraud was arrested after a 10-month hunt in Isabela province, the Bureau of Immigration said.
Arrested was Song Yangrae, 45, who was nabbed at his residence at Salinungan West, San Mateo town by agents of the Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division and Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Song is reportedly the subject of a Red Notice issued by Interpol in Seoul on January 15, 2016, after defrauding four Korean victims of around $360,000 (KRW435.8 million).
He was likewise found to have been engaging in a gainful occupation in the country without the proper permits when he and 11 other Koreans were caught in the act of selling mobile phone accessories in their stalls at the Korea Town along Friendship Highway in Angeles.
He was first arrested in January 2016 but escaped detention last January 2020, and went into hiding, until his whereabouts were discovered through manhunt operations.
According to reports, Song’s last known address was in Lubao, Pampanga but he transferred to San Mateo, Isabela in an attempt to evade authorities. He has reportedly been hiding in Isabela with his girlfriend for more than 9 months.
In January, the BI ordered a manhunt against Song who escaped from a restroom in Floridablanca, Pampanga while being guarded by agents of the BI’s Warden Facility.
Song was transported on Thursday to the BI’s Main Office in Intramuros while awaiting results of swab testing before being committed to their detention center in Bicutan, Taguig.
He is set to be deported and included in BI’s blacklist for being a fugitive from justice and for violating Section 37(a)(7) of the Philippine Immigration Act.