KIM Tae Dong, 58, has been hiding like a filthy bug in the Philippines since April 8, 2011. Like a pest, he has managed to eat his way into corrupt souls in the country and escape. He has also destroyed the future of two escorts who were sacked after he mysteriously vanished from St. Luke’s Hospital in Taguig City on Dec. 24, 2011.

Kim Tae Dong escaped  December 24, 2011.

Kim is wanted in South Korea. He and several cohorts were accused of large-scale swindling involving the game of baccarat (Lucky Nine) in several casinos in South Korea in 2010.

His group allegedly managed collect some $8 million dollars in casino winnings before the Korean authorities stopped  their scam and filed charges against them.

A warrant for Kim’s arrest was issued by the Korean authorities but he evaded by going to the Philippines, arriving here on April 8, 2011, with an “EO408” (tourist) visa valid for 21 days.

The Korean government asked the BI, under former military chief of staff Ricardo David, for assistance in having him arrested.

Meanwhile, Kim managed to get a working visa from the BI that not only prolonged his stay here legally but also allowed him to engage in whatever gainful employment that he sees fit.

Atty. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang, chief of BI intelligence and responsible for his arrest, told People’s Tonight that Kim got entangled in a business transaction that resulted in a case of estafa being filed against him before the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Acting on the request from the Korean government coursed thru their embassy, David issued a Mission Order (MO) to BI intelligence operatives under Mangrobang to hunt down and arrest Kim and on July 5, 2011, he was spotted and arrested by a BI team in Pasig City.

Noting that the BI failed to cancel his visa and the Korean Embassy also failed to cancel his passport, Kim questioned the legality of his arrest and petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus before the Manila RTC.

While engaged in court litigation, Kim ended up being locked up at the hot and congested BI Detention Center (BDC) in Taguig City.

In early August, Kim complained of various ailments -- “gall bladder, ulcer, hypertension and diabetes” -- and requested for a “one day” medical pass so he can have a medical check-up at the posh St. Luke’s Hospital also in Taguig City.

Acting on the recommendation of Mangrobang and  findings of Dr. Maria Theresa O. Montenegro, chief of the BI medical and dental services who first examined Kim, David approved the request.

Kim entered the hospital beginning August 26 where a BI report to David prepared by BI acting warden Angelito S. Geronimo four days later said he is “recuperating from surgical operation” of his kidney at Room 905.

Kim was, in effect, under “hospital arrest” until his mystery-shrouded escape four months later.

On the day of his escape, December 24, 2011, BI acting warden Protacio T. Arcilla issued an order to SG1 Eduardo Dulay, a BI organic personnel of 12 years, and Noel Acedillo, a CA (confidential agent), to escort (guard) Kim at the St. Luke’s with instruction to “immediately return” him to the BDC upon his hospital discharge.

Kim was confined at Room 1617 of St. Luke’s.

Dulay, in the sworn statement that he issued after Kim’s escape, said that around 3:30p.m. that day, a fellow Korean of Kim, Khan Park, came to visit “and started preparing food.”

“Moments later and while the two were eating their meals,” Dulay narrated, “said Korean nationals invited the respondent and CA Acedillo accepted the invitation in the spirit of Christmas.”

Due to the insistence of Park and Kim, they accepted a can of beer “but almost immediately, they both felt dizzy; hence they opted to rest in a nearby sofa.

“...(A)t around 7 in the evening, respondent and CA Acedillo regained their consciousness and, upon ascertaining that Kim is nowhere to be found, they immediately alerted the nurses’ station and the hospital’s in-house security personnel.”

Kim was gone and both Dulay and Acedillo took the full responsibility for the escape.

David promptly had them suspended and an investigation of the incident was also started.