Sen Hontiveros to probe BI's alleged role in fugitive's escape

Senator Risa Hontiveros announced that the Senate will investigate the alleged involvement of Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials in the escape of South Korean fugitive Na Ikhyeon.

Na, who is wanted for fraud in his home country, escaped BI's custody with the help of another Korean and immigration staff while attending a preliminary investigation at the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City.

The fugitive has since been rearrested, and BI Commissioner Joel Viado confirmed that three BI personnel have been terminated and criminal complaints have been filed against an immigration official with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

CCTV footage and testimonies suggest that the fugitive was intentionally allowed to escape rather than merely slipping away.

Hontiveros vowed to conduct a deeper inquiry, subpoena CCTV footage for more evidence of complicity, and urged Commissioner Viado to impose the strictest penalties, including criminal liability under Article 223 of the Revised Penal Code, on the BI personnel involved.

She stated that this incident is symptomatic of the BI's failures in handling foreign nationals and suggested a persistent culture of corruption within the agency.