Kidnapped Korean freed in Philippines

From the Mindanao Examiner BlogSpot site (Nov 5): Kidnapped Korean freed in Philippines

Abu Sayyaf militants have freed Wednesday an 18-year old South Korean national after almost a month in captivity in Basilan province in the restive Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, officials said.

Captain Franco Suelto, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Brigade, said Li Pei Zhei was freed in the town of Alicia in Zamboanga Sibugay province. He said the victim, who was kidnapped in the town of Kabasalan in September 11, had been held captive in Basilan.

He said Zhei, who runs a merchandise store in Kabasalan, was brought to Alicia town by two gunmen on a boat and abandoned him there. Zhei then asked villagers for direction to the police headquarters where his friends were waiting.

Suelto did not say if ransom was paid to the kidnappers, but he said Brigadier General Gerry Barrientos, the regional army commander, ordered troops to track down Li’s kidnappers.

Marine Captain Maria Rowena Muyuela, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command, also confirmed the safe release of Zhei, but was not aware if ransom was paid or not by his family.

Other reports said Zhei is a Chinese national, but police said the young man is a South Korean citizen. It said Zhei was kidnapped by four gunmen from his store and then dragged him to a waiting van which was found burned in the village of Timuay Danda also in Kabasalan town, about 130 kilometers from Zamboanga City.

No individual claimed responsibility for the abduction, but suspicion fell heavily on the Abu Sayyaf tagged as behind previous ransom kidnappings in the province.

Just recently, the Korean Embassy expressed alarm over the rising number of Koreans killed by criminals in the Philippines since early this year.

Ambassador Hyuk Lee warned that Korean businessmen will avoid the Philippines and seek safer places for doing business if crimes against Koreans persist.

“The rising incidence of crimes committed against Koreans while in the Philippines either on vacation or on business is a trend that has alarmed the embassy of the Republic of Korea,” he said, adding, specific measures should be adopted by law enforcement agencies to prevent Koreans from being targeted by kidnap and robbery gangs.

Businessman Bae Minju was killed when his car was stolen by armed men on July 27 in the Philippine capital. He was the ninth Korean reported killed in the Philippines since January. His wife was kidnapped, but later released unharmed. The victims’ family driver was arrested in connection with the crime.

In March, the 21-year old college student Lee Ji Won was kidnapped and murdered by a taxi driver and other assailants. Police have arrested four people linked to the murder, but three others remain at large.

The United Korean Community Association in the Philippines has started raising funds to support the investigation efforts of the police in relation to crimes committed against Korean nationals in the Philippines.

The fund will be the source of incentives to be given for the speedy resolution of cases, as well as for publication of a bulletin that will inform Koreans on safety measures and self-defense techniques.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/2014/11/kidnapped-korean-freed-in-philippines.html