EdPam assures safety of Koreans
ARAYAT – Former Arayat Mayor Luisito “Chito” Espino on Wednesday vehemently denied the accusations thrown against him by joint operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and local police who raided his house in Barangay Cacutud here.
At around 4:00 a.m. of Wednesday, personnel of CIDG backed by two V-150 armored trucks, members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and local police raided the house of Espino while serving search
CLARK FREEPORT — Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has assured that the city government will implement measures for the protection and safety of Korean nationals living and doing business in the city.
The mayor made the assurance during a consultative meeting called by Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda Wednesday night at Royce Hotel which was attended by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Korean Ambassador Kim JaeShi n.
Pamintuan disclosed that the city government is set to establish a command center similar to that in Davao City, which was initiated by President Duterte during his term as the city’s mayor.
Closed circuit televisions (CCTV) will be installed in the strategic areas in Korean villages and at the so called Korea Town, a commercial district in Barangay Anunas here where hundreds of Korean business establishments are erected, the mayor said.
Pamintuan said that he directed Senior Superintendent Patrick Villacorte, the new city police head, to intensify crime prevention all over the city.
The mayor also made a pitch on how to clean up the mess at Korean Town in Angeles City with renewed vigor by cleansing the PNP and installing a new city director. “I will put up a Korean Desk at the Mayor’s Office and the command center is now being constructed with 80 ultra high definition CCTVs that will be placed around the city.”
Pamintuan similarly denounced Jee’s killing saying “what happened last October was shameful. That kind of act is not a behavior of a true Filipino.”
For a long time, Koreans and Filipinos have had a good relationship, according to the mayor.
“In the 1950s, our country sent heaps of Filipino troops to Korea for support during the war,” he said.
Pamintuan said he helped of the largest ship makers in the world, the Korea Hanjin, to establish a manufacturing facility in Subic. “And now thousands of Filipinos are now employed there. Thank you Korea for trusting us.”
Dela Rosa, for his part, said that Koreans continue to be apprehensive of their security because of the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo and other incidents of robbery and extortion against them.
The PNP chief provided the hotlines (09989702286 and 09957952569) of the counter-intelligence task force, which was organized to address police abuses.