BI agents ordered: Bust Korean mafia

Immigration Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez ordered yesterday the round-up of members of a Manila-based Korean mafia victimizing fellow Koreans legitimately engaged in business ventures in the Philippines.

Rodriguez issued the order as he exposed the syndicate called "Kwang Japa" which is run by South Korean nationals involved in the protection racket and murders-for-hire.

Rodriguez said he received information from the intelligence community that the syndicate members, most of whom are here in the country as tourists, have been preying on their fellow Koreans. "I have instructed our agents to round-up the members of the so-called Korean mafia so that they could be summarily deported as their presence and activities here instill fear in the hearts of Korean investors in the country," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez disclosed that he has received a list of Koreans suspected of being "Kwang Japa."

He also said that he has issued mission orders for the arrest of the syndicate members, and that their names would be automatically included in the bureau’s blacklist once they have been arrested and deported so that they could no longer enter the country in the future.

Rodriguez said that the "godfather" of the Korean mafia here, whose name he has withheld for the time being, owns a karaoke bar in Pasay city. "This is where the Korean mafiosi regularly meet and receive instructions," he added.

Based on initial investigation, the "Kwang Japa" is believed to have already raised millions of pesos and dollars by preying on their fellow Korean nationals who are engaged in legitimate businesses like construction and import-export.

Rodriguez said the group extorts money by luring Korean businessmen into playing high stakes gambling in casinos and providing financing when the gamblers lose.

The syndicate then demands payment from the gamblers’ relatives in Korea with the threat of physical harm in case of non-payment.

Aside from extortion, "Kwang Japa" members are said to have been collecting monthly protection money from legitimate Korean businessmen in the Philippines. Those who refuse are harassed and threatened with bodily harm.

The syndicate, according to the intelligence report, also offers murders-for-hire and charges million of dollars as fees when fellow Koreans want to eliminate their business competitors.

Rodriguez also instructed immigration officers at the ports of entry to subject arriving Korean passengers, who do not appear to be legitimate tourists, to strict primary inspection.