BI arrests 268 foreign fugitives in first six months of 2025

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has significantly increased its apprehension of foreign fugitives, arresting 268 individuals in the first six months of 2025, a four-fold rise from the 69 arrests made in the same period last year.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized the agency's commitment to national security through collaboration with international law enforcement.

Among the notable arrests were four Japanese nationals linked to the "Luffy" syndicate, wanted for theft by impersonating police officers to conduct robberies.

A Korean national, Lee Jihwan, was apprehended for a violent robbery in South Korea, where he and an accomplice forced a victim to transfer a substantial amount of money.

Another high-value Korean fugitive, Chu Hoyong, captured for defrauding victims of billions of Korean won using fake real estate collateral, is also suspected of involvement in telecom fraud in the Philippines.