By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Four foreigners, each with charges filed against them in their home country, were taken into custody in various operations conducted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Pampanga.
A foreign sex tourist was apprehended by Immigration officials in Angeles City on April 2, which stems from its collaboration with Swedish and U.S. counterparts, as well as the National Bureau of Investigation – Violence Against Women and Children Division (NBI-VAWCD).
Heinz Henry Andreas Berglund, a Swedish national, was found to be wanted in his home country for multiple child exploitation offenses under the Swedish Criminal Code. His victim was reportedly a 10-year-old child in Sweden.
Reports also state that he has previous convictions for serious financial fraud. Authorities fear that his visit to the Philippines is to victimize more children.
Meanwhile, BI operatives have also collared Ignaz Ega Adhiaga on April 3, upon receiving confirmed reports of the foreigner’s involvement in child trafficking, with his victim being merely 9 years old.
The Indonesian national was reportedly in possession of several photos of young children from different countries including explicit materials.
Both suspects are now under the custody of Philippine authorities, and are to face deportation proceedings for violation of immigration laws.
Two fugitives nabbed by authorities in Pampanga
In two separate operations on March 31, BI officials have arrested a Korean and German national who were both wanted by the Interpol for evading justice in their respective countries.
Arrested in his residence in Brgy. Malabanias, Angeles City was German national Klaus Dieter Boekhoff, who is wanted by authorities in his home country for involvement in Internet fraud.
A local court in Bamberg, Germany is reported to have issued an arrest warrant against Boekhoff on Dec. 5, 2024, alleging that he operated more than a hundred fake online stores that defrauded approximately 590 victims of 81,000 euros since 2023.
He reportedly created the online stores with no intention of delivering the goods ordered by customers and kept the advance payments for himself instead.
In another operation, Korean National Ryu Hoijong was apprehended by authorities at his home in Timog Park Homes, Angeles City, Pampanga.
The Korean national was wanted in Seoul for larceny, which he committed in collaboration with an accomplice. In 2015, they allegedly stole a vehicle worth 40 million Korean won, registered it to a third party, and eventually sold it to a buyer through illegal means.
Both aliens are detained at the BI custodial facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City where they will remain until they are deported.
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