The South Korean fugitive recaptured in Pampanga five days after his escape on March 4 has admitted to bribing a Bureau of Immigration (BI) official to escape detention.
In a report on Magandang Umaga Pilipinas, Na Ikhyeon said during the Tuesday Senate hearing that he had paid ₱6 million to a high-ranking BI official named “Paul” and a Philippine National Police (PNP) officer he called “Raul.”
“The workers (Raul and Paul) said if they were able to pay them, in cash, they will help them escape the immigration,” Na said through a translator.
“Paul said that he was in a high position in the Immigration in Intramuros so he said that, ‘Just trust me on it,’ and Raul was a police,” he added.
Aside from the two, Na said that in June 2023, he also paid another Korean named Kim Song Hwan ₱8 million to bail him out, which Hwan failed to do.
Earlier, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado announced that the three personnel caught on CCTV assisting Na in his escape have been terminated. Viado also claimed to have no information on “Paul.”
Na was tracked in Angeles City, Pampanga, alongside accomplice Kang Changbeom. Both are wanted for fraud.
