ABDUCTED KOREAN BUSINESSMAN RESCUED IN PAMPANGA

BY KEVIN GALANG

A 78-YEAR-OLD South Korean businessman who was reportedly kidnapped was rescued on Saturday  in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

The victim was forcibly taken on February 9 by a group of 10 to 20 men from his home in Topacio Road at Clark Freeport in Mabalacat City.

The group of men barged inside the house of the businessman and identified themselves as operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The suspects showed the elderly trader  warrants for his arrest.

The group stayed for one-and-a-half hour in the house before taking the victim with them.

According to the victim’s foster daughter,the kidnappers demanded P20 million in exchange for the businessman’s safe release.

Agents of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) immediately conducted an investigation.

The PNP-AKG, along with the Police Regional Office 3 personnel headed by Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, Pampanga police Col. Jay Dimaandal, NBI and BI operatives coordinated with the Korean Embassy officials headed by Consul General Seung Man Sang for the rescue operation.

After five days of continuous follow-up operations and series of negotiations with an alias “James,”  around  12:05 a.m. Saturday,  the victim was released at CSM Airport Hotel Compound in Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City.

The victim told authorities that he was dropped off inside the compound of the Airport Hotel. He said the kidnapper then fled on a black sedan car.

A team from the PNP-AKG immediately assisted the businessman.