Report says: Mastermind in slay of 2 Koreans falls

CEBU, Philippines - The alleged mastermind in the killing of two Korean nationals, whose bodies were dumped in Naga last Saturday, was reportedly arrested in Macau yesterday afternoon.

A source said the alleged mastermind was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation with the help of Macau authorities.

He was arrested together with the alleged driver of the multicab that was used in the dumping of the bodies of the victims in Naga.

But the NBI office in Cebu did not confirm nor deny the report when asked by The FREEMAN last night.

Also yesterday, police regional director Lani-O Nerez yesterday said they have identified one of the suspects in the killing of two Koreans but the identity of the suspect will remain confidential so as not to jeopardize succeeding operations.

Nerez said the mastermind in the crime is reportedly also a Korean national who has a pending case in Korea, but the accomplices remain to be identified. Money is reportedly the motive in the killing.

A task force has been formed to look into the case, composing of the Regional Intelligence Division; Crime Laboratory; Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; and the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).

Nerez said they will coordinate with the Korean embassy and try to secure a list of names and pictures of Koreans that have come to Cebu, but have pending cases in Korea.

A Korean national, Kang Jung Il, reportedly a friend of the victims and Consul Jung San Chul identified the bodies of Choi Ho Jun, 41, and Yang Soon Suk, 40, through their tattoos.

Charlie Shin, president of the Korean Community Association here, already went to the office of the Regional Intelligence Division to coordinate with the authorities and seek further assistance.

Jung said they are hopeful that the police will solve the crime the soonest possible time. He said it is possible that the killing had something to do with drugs or moneymaking schemes. Nerez himself said they would explore the angle that the victims were involved in Mafia-like activities.

Jung said the two victims arrived in the Philippines in May this year as tourists.

The bodies of the victims sustained hack, stab and gunshot wounds and were found around 6am last Sunday in sitio Tres, barangay Uling. The remains of the two Koreans lie at the Rolling Hills Funeral Homes.

Nerez assured the case his will not affect tourism in Cebu. – Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)