DOJ chief orders Korean businessman’s release

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Alfredo Caguioa has ordered the release of a Korean businessman, convicted of two counts of issuing bouncing checks, from the Bureau of Immigration jail, a BI official said yesterday.

In a statement, BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said that on Nov. 6, Caguioa issued an order directing BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison “to desist from executing the appealed… resolutions, to recall the warrant of deportation issued on Oct. 20, 2015 against Kang Tae Sik and immediately release (him) from detention.”

Kang was turned over to the custody of his lawyer, Redentor Viaje.

He was arrested at his office in Makati City on Oct. 28 on the strength of a warrant of deportation based on a resolution dated Sept. 16. He was ordered deported for violation of Section 37(a)(3) of the Philippine Immigration Act, for having been convicted on two counts of a crime involving moral turpitude a few years ago.

Kang served only 10 months in prison for the two counts of violating Batas Pambansa 22, the bouncing checks law, earlier reports said.

In the order, Caguioa said Mison should have issued a warrant of deportation “upon finality of a deportation order judgment or resolution.”

He said since there is an appeal before the Department of Justice, the resolution ordering Kang’s deportation has not become final and executory.