Immigration Authorities Recapture Escaped Korean Fugitive in Parañaque Operation
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has successfully re-arrested a Korean national who managed to escape from government custody earlier this year, marking a significant breakthrough in their ongoing fugitive tracking efforts. This operation highlights the agency's intensified efforts to locate and detain individuals with outstanding deportation orders and international warrants.
Nighttime Manhunt Leads to Arrest
Personnel from the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) and Intelligence Division–Special Response Team (ID-SRT) conducted a coordinated manhunt operation on Thursday night, February 26, along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City. The operation specifically targeted Lee Jingyu, a 32-year-old Korean national who had been evading authorities since his disappearance on January 1, 2026.
Lee had vanished from the BI Warden Facility in Muntinlupa at the beginning of the year, prompting an extensive search across multiple regions. Intelligence reports indicated that he had been moving between Manila, Baguio, and other nearby areas in a deliberate attempt to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.
International Warrants and Criminal Background
The subject of a Summary Deportation Order for undesirability, Lee Jingyu is also listed under an Interpol Red Notice specifically for drug smuggling activities. This dual status made his capture a priority for both Philippine immigration authorities and international law enforcement networks.
During the arrest operation, BI operatives encountered another Korean national, In Jaesang, aged 41, who was found acting as a lookout and escort during Lee's movements in public areas. In failed to present any valid passport or immigration documents when questioned by authorities, raising further suspicions about his involvement in the fugitive's activities.
Previous Fugitive Apprehension and Current Custody
This arrest follows the earlier re-apprehension of Lee's fellow detainee, Yang Heejun, who was captured on January 14, 2026, following intensive tracking operations. The consecutive captures demonstrate the BI's persistent approach to locating escaped individuals with criminal backgrounds.
Both Lee Jingyu and In Jaesang are currently under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as they face formal deportation proceedings. The BI has emphasized that individuals with outstanding warrants and deportation orders will face appropriate legal consequences for their actions.
Separate Deportation of Korean Investment Scam Suspect
In a related development, the Bureau of Immigration reported the deportation of another Korean national, Na Ikhyeon, aged 28, who departed on board an Asiana Airlines flight from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. Na is wanted in South Korea for his alleged involvement in fraudulent investment schemes that targeted fellow Korean nationals.
Authorities detailed how Na misled investors into putting money into non-existent accounts, then withdrew the funds for personal gain alongside his associates. His previous arrest occurred on May 31, 2023, at Clark International Airport after he attempted to depart using a counterfeit Philippine passport, demonstrating a pattern of immigration violations and fraudulent activities.
The simultaneous operations against multiple Korean nationals with criminal backgrounds underscore the BI's comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement and international cooperation in addressing transnational crime concerns.
