JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla hinted on Thursday that the three Korean nationals whose deportation is being sought by South Korea may have committed severe crimes in their home country.

“Yes, I think so. Maybe more than that. These may be violent offenders, people who have committed crimes, violent crimes,” Remulla said in a chance interview when asked if the level of crimes committed by the Koreans could be compared to Japanese national Watanabe Yuki’s felonies.

Watanabe, also known as “Luffy,” was one of four Japanese fugitives recently deported by the Philippines upon Japan’s request.

According to reports, Watanabe, believed to be the ringleader of the group, had remotely instructed his accomplices in Japan on how to carry out their criminal activities via an encrypted messaging app from an immigration facility in Manila.

Remulla did not provide the personal information of the Korean fugitives, saying that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is currently conducting research.

“We’re doing our research already now. We’re doing our research about these people. We have nothing, no answers yet, and they’ll (BI) be doing the (research),” Remulla said.

South Korean Ambassador Kim Inchul visited Remulla earlier on Wednesday to discuss the deportation.

Inchul even congratulated Remulla on the successful deportation of the Japanese fugitives, but now it is their turn to seek the removal of their fugitives.

A DOJ statement revealed that the Korean government has already sent an official request to have their three nationals deported back to South Korea.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas