Police still clueless on Sokor man’s death

IMUS, Cavite — Police are still baffled over the death of a South Korean businessman, who was reportedly abducted in Trece Martires City after meeting with his fellow South Koreans.

The body of Gwak Nho Hak, 53, was found in Barangay Katitinga, Alfonso town a day after he was reported missing.

Police, however, found no gunshot or stab wounds in his body.

Senior Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, Cavite police director, said an autopsy was conducted on Gwak’s body although the cause of his death remains "undetermined" pending results of tests on his vital organs.

Gwak’s remains were slated to be cremated yesterday.

Investigation showed that after dropping off his live-in partner at a computer shop, Gwak proceeded to Trece Martires to meet with his fellow South Koreans. He had not shown up since then until he was found dead in Alfonso town.

It was only three days later when his remains were identified by his brother, Gwak Nho Wan, and his live-in partner, Shirley Inobio, at a funeral parlor in Alfonso town.

Gwak’s business activities in the country have also remained a mystery.

Kang Chun Kwan, owner of BK Electronics Inc. based at the export processing zone in Rosario town, has disowned Gwak as an employee of his company.

He said that he had known Gwak for eight years and that they played golf together.

He, however, said he was not aware of any business that Gwak had set up in the country or if he was legitimately employed in any company.

Superintendent Roberto Soriano, intelligence chief of the Cavite police, said even Gwak’s younger brother had no knowledge of any business of the victim.

Soriano suspects that the documents showing Gwak as an employee of BK Electronics were apparently meant to conceal his illegal stay in the country.

Apparently, Gwak sustained his day-to-day living through a monthly remittance of $4,000 to $5,000 from the lease of his property in South Korea, Soriano said.