No Korean mafia in PH: PNP, NBI

MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday both maintained that they are yet to establish the involvement of a Korean mafia on businessman Jee Ick-joo's kidnapslay case.

PNP-Anti-kidnapping Group (AKG) director Glenn Dumlao, however, revealed that there are Korean nationals who work for erring policemen by providing them information about possible targets, but it cannot be classified as a mafia.

"There are some Koreans who are here and engaged in illegal activities, acting as foreign agents to law enforcement agency, mga nagtuturo ng mga target. It’s not Korean mafia that is actually involved," he said during the resumption of Senate hearing on alleged cases of "tokhang for ransom."

Police Regional OfficeCentral Luzon director Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino said in the case of the three Korean nationals who were harassed by police personnel in Angeles City, Pampanga, a Korean pointer whom he identified as “Thomas” was involved.

“There is a particular case that happened on December 30, wherein there is an involvement of a Korean national in the abduction of three Korean nationals just playing golf in Angeles City. This involved seven policemen assigned in Angeles City Police Office,” he said.

The three Korean golfers were accused of being involved in illegal online gambling and were forcibly taken to a police station in Pampanga and for their release, the police personnel asked them for P300,000.