Duterte: Korean mafia active in Cebu

 MANILA, Philippines -  A Korean mafia is involved in illegal drugs and prostitution in Cebu, according to President Duterte, as he warned foreigners who engaged in unlawful activities that they would not be given special treatment.

Duterte said intelligence reports indicated that the mafia is involved in narcotics, prostitution and kidnapping.

“It’s strongest in Cebu. If you ask any (person there) or if you go to Cebu for an investigative journalism you will find out,” Duterte said on Saturday.

“I’ve always heard from intelligence sources that in Cebu, with all due respect to the South Korean government, they are the ones controlling drugs and prostitution,” he added.

Duterte was asked to react to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa’s statement that a Korean mafia may be behind the murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, who was reportedly killed inside national police headquarters last October.

Witnesses claimed Jee was killed by members of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, prompting the President to bar the police from conducting operations against illegal drugs.

Duterte has also vowed to cleanse the PNP, which he described as “corrupt to the core.”

Duterte warned Koreans involved in illegal activities that they would be “treated like ordinary criminals.”

“For those into the racket of prostitution, drugs and everything, kidnapping, you will be treated as just an ordinary criminal, just like a Filipino. You don’t enjoy special privileges just because you’re a foreigner,” Duterte said.