Philippines immigration office arrests 21 Korean

By Kim Jae-heun

The Philippines' Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested 21 Koreans there earlier this month for working and staying illegally, according to the Korean Embassy in the Philippines, Wednesday.

Eight out of 21 Koreans have been released, eight are still being detained, while five are being questioned.

The BI conducted a crackdown mainly in the Paranaque region, where many Koreans reside.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took immediate action to request an impartial investigation with the Philippine immigration office.

“We sent our consul stationed there to help the Koreans and provide interpretation services while talking with the local investigators about the case,” said a ministry official, Wednesday.

The Korean Embassy in the Philippines held a public hearing inviting 20 representatives of the Korean community there to talk about the crackdown by the local immigration office and check their visa status.

“Four of eight being held are confirmed to be illegal aliens whose stay periods have expired. The other four allegedly worked at places where they were not permitted to work,” the ministry official said.

Meanwhile, one Korean resident there posted an online petition on Cheong Wa Dae's website, Tuesday, asking the government to take measures to protect Koreans living in the Philippines.

“I am too scared to go outside. The Philippine government is raiding Korean restaurants, kindergartens, language institutes and food stores and arresting Korean staff randomly. We said we have visas but the immigration officials would put handcuffs on us first and eventually ask for money,” the petitioner wrote. “However, the Korean embassy and the consulate are complacent about the case and they are only enjoying the Chuseok holiday here. We are not getting proper protection.”

Over 7,800 people have joined the petition as of Wednesday calling for the Korean government to take up the case with the Philippine Immigration Bureau.

An official of the Korean embassy in the Philippines told the local press that it is monitoring the case closely and has not confirmed any illegal arrests or human rights abuses during the arrest.

“We are not sure why the Philippines immigration office is conducting a major crackdown on illegal immigrants but they have arrested more Chinese than Koreans,” said a Korean embassy official. “Our ambassador will meet with the head of the Philippines immigration office and exchange opinions about the case tomorrow.”