MANILA - A total of 85 foreign fugitives wanted in their home countries were arrested in numerous operations last year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Tuesday.

Citing the latest data, Commissioner Jaime Morente said these foreigners were apprehended by the BI's Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).

South Koreans topped the list of those arrested with 55, followed by eight Americans, seven Chinese, three Japanese, and three Taiwanese.

"Despite the pandemic, our operatives remain alert and continue our investigations against these illegal aliens, who thought they can evade justice by hiding in our country," he said in a statement.

"We will do everything in our power to arrest them, deport them, and ensure they are never able to return here," the BI chief added.

Last year's figure of arrested foreign fugitives is significantly higher than the 55 arrested in 2020.

FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy said many of those arrested were involved in fraud, economic crimes, cybercrimes, and sexual offenses.

Among the notable apprehensions include the arrest of Lee Honhee and Seo Jungnam, both Korean nationals arrested in January 2021. Lee is wanted in Incheon for attempted murder, while Seo is wanted for allegedly being a leader of an online prostitution ring.

Also arrested last year was Ivaldi Antonello, an Italian with a warrant issued against him for rape, who was arrested at the BI Pampanga Field office in February. In the same month, Japanese national, Fujita Toshiya, was also arrested for alleged involvement in telco fraud.

Last April, South Koreans Jung Myunghun, Yu Daewoong, and Kang Wesung, who are among South Korea's most wanted, for being leaders of a big-time online scam.

In July, the FSU arrested Pascal Dider Gillot for alleged sexual abuse of minors, while Taiwanese Huang Kuan-I who was wanted for attempted murder for 17 years in his country, was arrested in September.

Lee Jaehun, a Korean, was arrested on December 21 for reportedly being the head of an illegal online gambling mafia.

"Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we will not stop until we arrest each and every fugitive who take advantage of the Filipino hospitality to escape their crimes. We will find them, arrest them, and deport them," Morente added

The FSU is a dedicated unit of the Bureau tasked with arresting fugitives from justice. Information about the fugitives' cases often come from foreign governments, as well as intelligence groups such as the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). (PNA)