BI detains 8 Koreans in online dogfights

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has detained eight Korean nationals, who were earlier arrested for engaging in online dogfights in Laguna, for being undesirable aliens and for violating immigration laws.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. identified the eight Koreans as Lee Gwi Woo, 21; Jeong Yeon Hwal, 31; Noh Min Chul, 44; Lee Kyung Won, 31; Kim Young Hwan, 29; Hyun Ho Han, 45; Hong Jeong Oh, 43; and Kim Do Kyung, 41.

The prosecutor’s office in San Pablo City earlier had granted the eight Koreans temporary liberty, saying there was a need for further investigation.

Police arrested them in San Pablo City and Calauan, both in Laguna, last March 30 for running online dogfights. More than 300 pit bulls were recovered from them.

The pit bulls were pitted in three- to five-minute fights streamed live on the Internet, while watchers, mostly foreigners, placed bets through credit cards or PayPal, an online money transfer system.

David, however, was disturbed to learn that the eight Koreans were also the same ones caught in Indang, Cavite last Dec. 3 for operating online dogfights, but who just transferred their illegal operations to Laguna.

David assured the public that he would turn down any petition for bail. “This time, we will make sure that they do not go scot-free until the cases against them are resolved by the courts,” he said.

BI special prosecutor Cris Villalobos said the eight Koreans were also charged with violating the Immigration Act either for illegally staying in the country or violating the conditions of their stay.

Five of the Koreans were found to be overstaying tourists, while two were undocumented and have no arrival records. The eighth one, who holds a permanent resident visa, will be recommended for deportation for being an undesirable alien, the bureau said.

BI legal division chief Arvin Santos said the Koreans would not be deported until the court has resolved the cases filed against them. 

“If convicted, they will have to serve their sentence first before we can deport them. After that, we will place them in our blacklist and ban them from re-entering the Philippines,” Santos said.