By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – A Korean national wanted in his country for gang violence has been arrested in Pasay City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Friday.
The NBI identified the Korean fugitive as Jang Seong Woong, who was arrested on Thursday by agents from the NBI-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (OTCD) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI)-Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), in collaboration with the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Military Intelligence.
The arrest was based on an official communication from the Senior Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the BI, who identified the Korean as an undesirable alien who poses a risk to public safety and security due to his status as a fugitive from justice.
An International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Red Notice has been issued for Woong, following a warrant of arrest from the Daegu District Court for serious physical injury and kidnapping in violation of the Criminal Act of Korea.
Woong, along with fellow gang members, allegedly detained and severely assaulted an individual with a baseball bat in an attack related to the victim’s gambling debts.
The BI said Woong arrived in the Philippines on May 1, 2017 as a tourist and was initially granted a 30-day stay. He applied for extensions, with the most recent extension valid until Jan. 28, 2020.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago commended the NBI-OTCD agents and expressed his gratitude to the BI-FSU, PAF-Military Intelligence, and the KNPA for their invaluable support that led to the successful apprehension of the Korean fugitive. (PNA)
