Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said scalawags and rogue policemen are derailing the anti-illegal drug war of the President, and should be treated “in manners harsher than drug criminals.”
In line with this, he will meet with the leaders of the large Korean community in Rome, immediately after arriving from abroad in order to assure the safety of expats and foreign visitors in Angeles following the involvement of policemen in crimes against Korean nationals.
Pamintuan relayed his message through his office from Rome where he is participating in peace talks between the Philippine government and leftist rebel forces.
“I am dismayed and saddened by the alleged involvement of policemen in crimes against our friends from Korea who visit and have taken residence in our city,” he said.
He recalled that a day before he left for Rome last Monday (Jan. 6), he met with key officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) precisely to warn them that he will not tolerate wrongdoing involving local policemen.
Some policemen from the ACPO’s Station 5 in Barangay Cuayan in this city, where the so-called “Korean Village” is located, were implicated in the illegal detention, extortion and robbery committed against three Korean nationals last December 30.
It was also in the same area where Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo was abducted and killed by a police team allegedly led by SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel of the PNP Anti Illegal Drugs Group in a “tokhang for ransom” operations.
Pamintuan said he will set up a desk within the Mayor’s Office to look look into the welfare of Koreans in Angeles City. He will also seek the help of the Korean community in setting up measures and mechanisms to ensure the safety of their nationals.