Korean diplomat found in morgue

The lifeless body of Chung Young Ho, Third Secretary of the Korean Embassy in Manila who was reported missing Saturday, was found in a funeral parlor in Marikina yesterday, the police said.

Investigators said Chung’s body did not bear any sign of external injury. But Mary Andaya, owner of King’s Funeral Parlor on J.P. Rizal Street in Marikina City, said "something" was blocking the victim’s throat, which could possibly be the cause his death.

Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Director Nestorio Gualberto said representatives of the Korean Embassy have been duly notified of Chung’s death.

Police probers found Chung’s body at around 4:00 p.m. as they scoured funeral parlors and hospitals in Metro Manila. Lee Yong-Soo, First Secretary of the Korean Embassy, personally went to the funeral parlor and identified the body.

Andaya said the body was discovered by barangay tanods in the afternoon of June 7, a day after he went missing, somewhere in Marikina Heights. No identification cards were found on him, except for an empty bottle of wine found beside him, investigators said.

Earlier, Southern Police District (SPD) Director Jose Gutierrez Jr., said he doubted reports that the Korean diplomat was abducted by a kidnap for ransom group, noting that no ransom demand has been made.

Gutierrez added that the Makati police has leads as to the identities of the people behind the Korean’s disappearance. Earlier yesterday, members of the Makati police expressed apprehension that Chung could be dead, following reports from the Korean Embassy that he was suffering from a heart ailment.

Chung was reported missing Saturday night in Makati. Police believe he fell victim to the notorious Ativan Gang.

Gang members are known to drug their victims and then rob them clean. Superintendent Jose Salido, Makati investigation chief, said Chung might have taken a huge dose of the drug Ativan. The alcohol consumed by Chung and the drug could have triggered a heart attack, Salido said.

Considering that most of the Ativan Gang cases have resulted in the recovery of the victims the day after they are victimized, usually alive, Salido noted his investigators were baffled by the long period it took to find Chung.

Also yesterday, South Korean Ambassador Son Sang-Ha personally delivered a note verbale to Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin and expressed his government’s concern about Chung. "We ask the Philippine government to make its best efforts to investigate and locate Mr. Chung," a diplomatic source quoted South Korea’s note verbale.

Police believe that the group that victimized Chung was the same group that victimized businessmen Peter Holyoeke, 61, of New Zealand, and Broudo Gordechai, 42, of Israel. Holyoeke was found unconscious by two street vendors at around 6:45 p.m. last Saturday along Jupiter Street. Gordechai has been missing since May 30.

Chung was with a friend, Chun Han Young, when a well-dressed Filipino who introduced himself as "Robert" and alleged he was an executive of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), invited them for a round of drinks.

After Robert and Chung dropped Chun off at his house in Ortigas, Chun told investigators that some 15 minutes later, he talked to the diplomat on his cell phone and was told that Chung and their new friend were a few minutes away from the Ritz Tower Condominium in Makati, where Chung lives. Chung became missing since then. – Nikko Dizon, Marvin Sy, Pia Lee-Brago and Christina Mendez