13 illegal Korean tour guides rounded up

The National Bureau of Investigation rounded up 15 Koreans allegedly working as tour guides to their compatriots even if they do not have the necessary permits from the Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Tourism.

NBI executive officer Ernesto Macabare said they were supposed to serve a warrant of arrest for falsification of official documents against a certain John Woo at the Mactan Cebu International Airport last Thursday evening when they came upon the tour guides.

Judge Ester Veloso of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Lapu-Lapu City issued the warrant of arrest against Woo, a Korean national, previously arrested for operating as a tour guide using a fake accreditation from the DOT.

Macabare said they were informed that Woo continues to work prompting them to conduct the operation. It was during the operation when they chanced upon Cho Young Jung, Lee Jung Bae, Chang Hyun, Lee Sun Hee, Kim Chun Hee, Kim Hyoung Shin, Jo Sung Hun, Lee Tae Joon, Park Chang Ha, Lee Ill Nam, Cho A-Ra, An Seong Woo, An Mi Kyung, Um Jae-eum and Lee Soon Jin posing as tour guides.

Macabare said the suspects failed to present the necessary documents to prove that their activity is legal. Among the documents that the suspects failed to present were their respective passports, alien employment permits and DOT accreditation.

But Park Chang Ha and Lee Tae Joon were eventually released by the NBI later yesterday afternoon after they were able to present certifications from the DOT that they are accredited tour guides as well as alien employment permit from DOLE.

The 13 other suspects were charged by the NBI for falsification of public documents because they presented identification cards as tour guides but the DOT said they are not accredited and in violation of the labor code for working without permit.

The suspects are working for Korean Travel Agency, Cebu Number One Travel, Club Korea and PCL Yoo Han Travel. - Fred P. Languido