Authorities rescue remaining two of three abducted Koreans in Mindanao

Kidnappers abandoned two remaining Korean hostages late Saturday in Lanao del Norte, a military report said Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Roland Amarille, head of the Army Task Force Makalintad, told GMA News Online that the two of the remaining abducted Koreans, Seok Wu and Kim Kimnamdoo, were rescued around 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Lanao del Norte's Salvador town.

"The rescue of the two happened two days after their companion Choi In-So was abandoned by the abductors also in a far-flung area in the same town last Thursday," Amarille said.

All the three Koreans were seized on October 21 while scouting for mining opportunities in Lanao del Sur.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, but Amarille linked a certain Anwar Bilao as the leader of the gang that seized the Koreans.

Asked if rasom was paid for the Koreans' freedom, Amarille said, "I don't know of any amount of money being paid to the kidnappers."

"The freedom of three victims was mainly due to military and police pressure against the kinadppers. We were able to constrict the area where the gang of almost 30 armed men were hiding with their captives. I guess they ran out of food and other supplies and eventually decided to abandon their captives so their escape would be easy," Amarille said.

Also, he said the kidnappers belong to a band of purely notorious criminals and not to any armed group in the Lanao area.

Except for few bruises, the two Koreans were in good physical condition during the rescue, he added.— Mariz Revales /LBG, GMA News

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November 27, 2011 8:48am

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Kidnapped S. Korean recovered in Philippines

One of three South Korean men missing for more than a month in the lawless southern Philippines has been found alive, but the fate of his two companions remains unknown, officials said Friday.

The South Korean, identified by police as Choi Inn So, was abandoned by his captors in the southern island of Mindanao late Thursday and was picked up by police and local officials, police and military spokesmen said.

"The kidnap victim was apparently ill and weak and was immediately brought to the hospital," regional military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang said.

"They apparently abandoned him because he was sick. The situation of the other two kidnap victims is unknown."

He could not say what illness the South Korean was suffering from.

The man was found in a remote town on the border of Lanao del Sur and the neighbouring province of Lanao del Norte, said the head of the regional police, Chief Superintendent Jufel Adriatico.

His men are now searching for the other two kidnap victims, he added.

Adriatico said he had informed the South Korean embassy of the development. Embassy spokesmen declined to comment.

The three South Koreans were lured from their hotel in the trading city of Cagayan de Oro on October 21 and reportedly taken to Lanao del Sur, a heavily forested province about 50 kilometres (30 miles) away.

Police earlier said the three had been scouting for mining opportunities in Mindanao when they were taken and the kidnappers had contacted their relatives using their mobile phones.

Foreign governments warn their citizens to avoid many parts of the southern Philippines because of the threat of violent crime, including kidnapping for ransom.

A Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines that has dragged on for more than 40 years has given birth to a wide range of militants, bandits and pirates who carry out abductions.

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AFP News

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DND to prepare list of equipment to be acquired from Korea

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) will prepare a list of equipment that the government would acquire from South Korea after President Aquino sought its assistance in improving the military’s capability.

“This is for the DND so it will be the DND who will specify and make specifications of what exactly is needed as far as the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is concerned,” DND spokesman Zosimo Paredes told reporters yesterday.

Paredes said the drawing up of the list would be done in coordination with the military’s major services.

“We are still awaiting specific instructions from President vis-a-vis the agreement that will be signed,” he said.

Paredes said Aquino’s request for South Korea to help the AFP is significant given the need to boost the military’s capability.

“We welcome other friendly nations to help in this regard. We will not react negatively in terms of defense assistance from friendly countries,” he said.

The military said South Korea has been a “valuable partner” in its upgrade efforts.

“The AFP welcomes President Aquino’s plans to purchase military hardware and defense articles from South Korea,” AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. told The STAR.

“For many years now, South Korea has been a valuable partner of the AFP as we continuously upgrade our capability to address the nation’s security concerns and challenges,” he said.

Burgos said among the military equipment acquired from South Korea were the one-ton and two-ton truck troop carriers and squad automatic weapons.

“The K3 squad automatic weapons from South Korea provide superior firepower for our ground troops in the infantry and are now being used in our internal security operations,” he said.

Burgos said the KM 450 one-ton trucks provide “fast and efficient” troop lift capability to their field units.

“Aside from the one-ton and two-ton truck troop carriers and the squad automatic weapons from South Korea, we also purchased ballistic helmets and Kevlar vests for our troops’ force protection,” he said.

The President requested the assistance of Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in upgrading the AFP during their meeting in Malacañang last Monday.

“On defense cooperation, I expressed to President Lee the interest of the Philippines to gain some specific defense articles, such as military-grade helicopters, boats and aircraft,” Aquino told reporters. “This is in consonance with the upgrading and modernization of the AFP.”

‘Ninoy impressed with Koreans’

Meanwhile, Aquino told President Lee over dinner Monday that his father – the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. – was impressed with the strength of character of Koreans.

“I remember during our own Martial Law years, when I was but a mere child, my father, who also first introduced us to Korean cuisine, would relate to the family his stories about the deprivations that your country had to go through,” he said.– With Delon Porcalla

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By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 23, 2011 12:00 AM

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PNoy to Korean president: PHL needs ‘defense articles’

President Benigno Aquino III has expressed to visiting Korean President Lee Myung-Bak the government's interest to improve the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by obtaining "defense articles."

"On defense cooperation, I expressed to President Lee the interest of the Philippines to gain some specific defense articles such as military grade helicopters, boats, and aircrafts," Aquino said in his speech Monday after the expanded bilateral meeting held in Malacañang.

"This is in consonance with the upgrading and modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Aquino added.

The Aquino administration has moved to fast-track the modernization of the AFP following the tensions earlier this year between the Philippines and China due to accusations that China is becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its South China Sea claims.

Aquino, on Monday, also said they updated each other on developments in the Korean peninsula and the West Philippine Sea, and agreed to steadily advance bilateral relationship between the two countries for it to be able to reach greater heights.

"I have full confidence that our meeting this morning has [positioned] our two countries toward a more positive, dynamic, and nurturing friendship that will best serve the mutual interest of the Filipino and Korean peoples," Aquino said.

Limitless potential

For his part, Lee, through an interpreter, said the potential for a much improved cooperation between Korea and the Philippines is “limitless," noting the Philippines’ highly-skilled labor force and abundance of natural resources.

Aquino said the Republic of Korea is the fifth largest trade partner of the Philippines with bilateral trade reaching P6.08 billion in 2010. It was also the third top investor in the Philippines last year with investments that reached $691.3 million.

“The Republic of Korea and its business sector have continued to display confidence in the economic prospects and opportunities found in the Philippines and, for this, I thank them," he said.

Lee said they agreed to continuously improve the business and environment conditions here in the Philippines as this will entice more Korean companies to come to the Philippines to do business, which will lead to increased trade and investments between the two countries.

The Philippines and Korea signed five agreements on trade and agriculture.

Aquino said he and Lee had extensive discussions on bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest, which have significant bearing on the Philippines-Republic of Korean relations.

They also recalled the vital role played by the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea, locally known as PEFTOK, in aiding the Republic of Korea during the Korean War—just one year after the two countries formally established bilateral relations.

Aquino said his father, slain Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., was one of those sent to Korea during the war and became the youngest war correspondent at the age of 17.

Forever grateful

Lee said the Koreans will forever be grateful to the Filipinos for the help during the war. “The young soldiers here from the Philippines came all the way to Korea to help us defend against communist aggression and help us defend our freedom and our democracy and for this we will always remain eternally grateful," he said.

Lee and Aquino also held a broad ranging and in-depth exchange of views on how to enhance the bilateral relationship within the context of regional milieu. They noted the productive meetings held during the recently conducted East-Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia and both reaffirmed their commitment to enhance regional cooperation through the ASEAN framework.

Lee said in their “very constructive and useful talks we discussed not only about the state of the current affairs between our two countries but also talking about the future that we both hope to see."

He also conveyed to Aquino his “deepest admiration for what you are doing for the people of the Philippines."

Lee said despite the economic crisis that all of the countries are going through, the Philippine economy posted remarkable 7.6 percent growth.

“This is an outstanding number as the envy of many countries around the world and also you are on a path towards continuous growth. And I believe that this was possible because President Aquino you have demonstrated tremendous vision and resolve in your inclusive growth of vision which is about providing the Filipino people with a better future and prosperity for all," he said. - Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News

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11/21/2011 | 02:24 PM

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Govt vows aid in rescuing 3 kidnapped Koreans

The Philippine government has promised it will assist in the safe recovery of the three Korean nationals who were reportedly abducted in Lanao del Norte three weeks ago.

"In a meeting with the Republic of Korea ambassador, we have given our government's assurance that all appropriate assistance will be given to ensure the safe recovery of the abducted Koreans," said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario.

The Koreans identified as Seok Wu, Kim Kimnamdoo and a certain Mr. Choi were found to have been kidnapped by a still unidentified group.

In an earlier report, Police Director Felicisimo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations for Western Mindanao, said the kidnappers have already made contact using the cellular phones of the victims.

An initial investigation revealed that the three were last spotted in Lala Maranding town in Lanao del Norte.

Khu said the three left their hotel in Cagayan de Oro City last October 21 with three unidentified Filipinos.

Reports that the three were brought to an unspecified area in Lanao del Sur are being validated by Joint Task Force Ranao, which was reactivated by President Benigno Aquino III last May to combat kidnap-for-ransom groups in the area. — with Carmela Lapeña/RSJ, GMA News

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3 Koreans kidnapped in Lanao del Norte — police

Three Korean nationals who were reported missing in Lanao del Norte three weeks ago were found to have been kidnapped by a still unidentified group, local police said Monday.

Police Director Felicisimo Khu, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations for Western Mindanao, identified the victims as Seok Wu, Kim Kimnamdoo and a certain Mr. Choi.

Khu, citing initial investigation, said the three left their hotel in Cagayan de Oro City last October 21 with three unidentified Filipinos. They were reportedly invited to go to Lala Maranding town in Lanao del Norte, where they were last spotted.

He added that the kidnappers have already made contact using the cellular phones of the kidnap victims.

Joint Task Force Ranao, which was reactivated by President Benigno Aquino III last May to combat kidnap-for-ransom groups in the area, is currently validating reports that the three were brought to an unspecified area in Lanao del Sur.

Last September, a businessman was also taken by an unidentified kidnap-for-ransom group in Lanao del Sur, but was able to escape from his abductors a day after the abduction. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

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