Para±aque: Nine South Korean nationals allegedly involved in an online loan fraud scheme were arrested following a joint operation headed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Para±aque City.
According to Philippines News Agency, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that the operation was conducted on Wednesday evening and lasted until the early hours of Thursday. The illegal activity was discovered when BI operatives, alongside National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel, executed a mission order against two other foreign fugitives at a condominium unit in the city.
The nine South Korean nationals, aged between 29 and 31, were apprehended while operating suspected scam platforms. Authorities discovered the individuals at separate computer stations with pre-written scripts, which were suspected to be used for fraudulent online lending transactions.
A representative from the South Korean government indicated that the setup resembled an international online loan fraud operation targeting victims abroad. Viado emphasized the collaborative efforts with local and international law enforcement agencies to prevent the Philippines from becoming a haven for cybercriminals. He stated that foreign nationals violating Philippine laws, particularly those involved in syndicated crime, would be located, apprehended, and deported without hesitation.
The arrested individuals are currently detained at the NBI's Organized and Transnational Crime Division and will be transferred to the BI Warden Facility after processing. Viado noted that this operation is part of the Marcos administration's broader initiative to eliminate illicit activities by foreign nationals using the Philippines as a base.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has consistently highlighted the importance of protecting the country from transnational crimes and maintaining strong border security.
Meanwhile, Viado also reported the interception of six more Filipino women who were forced to work in scam hubs in Cambodia. The women attempted to depart from Davao International Airport via a Philippine Airlines flight to Singapore on June 20. They were reportedly recruited through the social messaging platform Telegram under the guise of legitimate employment as customer service representatives in Cambodia.
One victim recounted receiving fraudulent documents and a return ticket from the recruiter, and having paid PHP50,000 to the recruiter. The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) provided assistance to the victims upon their turnover by BI officers.
