American, Korean facing deportation

MANILA, Philippines–The Bureau of Immigration has started deportation proceedings against an American and a South Korean who are both wanted fugitives in their country.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. identified the American as Micah Wagner, 23, and the Korean as Kim Chong Rok, 37. Both are detained at the BI jail in Bicutan, Taguig pending their deportation.

The two were arrested in separate operations conducted by members of the bureau’s fugitive search unit who were armed with mission orders from the BI chief. Wagner, who is wanted for theft and burglary, was arrested in Quezon City while Kim, a convicted swindler, was nabbed at the BI main office in Intramuros.

Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, said Wagner was issued an arrest warrant by a superior court in Alameda County, California last June 27.

“His passport was also cancelled by the US State Department, thus he is now an undocumented alien,” Mangrobang

As for Kim, she said he was convicted for fraud by a district court in Daejon, South Korea on July 2, 2009.

Kim was reportedly charged with fraud for collecting a loan by a fictitious borrower that his victim, whom he had blackmailed, was forced to guarantee.