Jaylo apologizes to Korean embassy

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Reynaldo Jaylo apologizes to the Korean embassy over the embarrassment caused by the arrest of a Korean national on credit card fraud.

Jaylo assured Gyong Taek Cha, consul and police attaché of the Korean embassy that his complaint against PDEA agents regarding the arrest of his countryman, Hai Ju Ku, will be acted upon fairly and justly.

"In the meantime, please accept my apologies for any unnecessary inconvenience or embarrassment that you and your compatriot may have experienced as a result of the unfortunate incident," said Jaylo in his letter to Gyong.

Earlier, Jaylo, head of the PDEA’s Task Force Hunter, ordered SPO3 Eduardo Quiman and agents Ricardo Peñalosa and Igmiio Bellido grounded over the incident. He directed the trio to answer the allegations and to personally explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The PDEA agents arrested Hai last Dec. 9 while in the act of withdrawing cash from an ATM machine in Malate using a credit card. When invited for questioning, Hai yielded another 48 pieces of credit cards not in his name, the PDEA agents said.

But Hai denied owning the seized credit cards. According to Hai, the PDEA agents robbed him of his digital camera, cellphone and P5,000 in cash.

Initial investigation conducted by Jaylo showed that the Hai’s digital camera and cellphone were among the evidence forwarded by his men to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), who has taken over the case.

For his part, Peñalosa claimed Hai has about P3,700 with him at the time he was cornered but he spent the money to buy cell cards and food while Hai was under their custody. — Non Alquitran