The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has detained a South Korean national wanted for alleged large-scale investment fraud as part of intensified efforts to ensure that the Philippines does not serve as a safe haven for international financial criminals, officials said this week.
The suspect, 45-year-old Jun Hwanhwi, was apprehended on 18 February 2026 along Sapphire Street in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, by agents from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU). He had previously been declared an undesirable alien by immigration authorities and was the subject of a warrant of deportation issued in 2021. An Interpol Red Notice had also been issued for his arrest at the request of South Korean law enforcement.
Fraud Scheme Details Revealed
According to Philippine and South Korean authorities, Jun is accused of orchestrating a large-scale investment fraud scheme in 2018 that resulted in significant financial losses for at least one victim.
Investigators allege that Jun first persuaded a victim to invest around ₩500 million (South Korean won) in bonds in two separate transactions, only to later convince the same individual to co-purchase stocks, defrauding an additional ₩200 million. In the ensuing months, he allegedly extracted another ₩268 million in multiple instalments by falsely claiming urgent medical treatment needs for a sibling. Authorities said total losses exceeded ₩900 million.
South Korean courts charged him under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, prompting the issuance of the Interpol Red Notice and the deportation warrant that facilitated his arrest in the Philippines.
Joint Enforcement and International Cooperation
The operation was carried out through close coordination between the BI, Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) Cyber Patrolling and Intelligence Unit, the Eastern Police District’s District Intelligence Division, and other government intelligence forces, alongside counterparts in South Korea.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado underscored that the arrest reflects a deliberate pattern of deception involving substantial financial damage, and highlighted the BI’s focus on ensuring that foreign nationals involved in major fraud and financial crimes cannot evade justice by evading authorities in the Philippines.
Next Steps: Deportation Proceedings
After his arrest, Jun was transferred to the BI Warden Facility, where he will remain pending deportation proceedings back to South Korea to face charges and potential prosecution. Officials noted that his case underscores the importance of cross-border law enforcement cooperation in tackling complex economic crimes that transcend national boundaries.
Authorities reiterated that foreign nationals who commit large-scale financial fraud and evade responsibility by hiding abroad will be pursued, arrested, and deported.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
