Arrested Korean is a fugitive in his homeland

The South Korean who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation the other day for illegal possession of firearms was found to be a fugitive in his own country.

Korean police attaché and Consul Park Ki Tae, in a letter sent to NBI director Nestor Mantaring, said that Kim Won Kyu is a fugitive in the Republic of Korea.

The Korean embassy in Manila however did not provide the details of his case in Korea but based on their records, Won Kyu arrived in the Philippines in May 2002.

The NBI will turn over Won Kyu today to the International Police after he pays bail for a separate charge for illegal possession of firearms here.

Won Kyu was arrested by NBI operatives last Wednesday morning in his rented apartment in barangay Talamban for keeping several unlicensed firearms.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court judge Geraldine Faith Econg, the policemen found a .45 cal. pistol, a .32 cal. revolver, a .22 cal. revolver and 32 bullets for a .22 cal. rifle.

Meanwhile, a construction worker who applied for an NBI clearance ended up being arrested after he was found to have a pending warrant of arrest for child abuse.

Marvin Galia, 37, a native of Nunok, Surigao del Sur, went to the NBI office yesterday supposedly for interview after he was told that his application for clearance "hit". An application for clearance is called a hit when the applicant has a pending case or happens to have a namesake who has a criminal record.

When interviewed by agent Gregorio Algoso, Galia admitted that he used to live in Cavite where he was charged with child abuse. Algoso said when they verified in Cavite he found out that Galia has a warrant of arrest issued by RTC judge Cesar Mangrobang in branch 22 in Imus, Cavite, last March 20, 2003.

Galia said his former live-in partner filed a case against him for allegedly abandoning their child in violation of the Child Abuse Law, he said he left his former live-in partner in Cavite to be with his girlfriend in Sibonga who is now his wife.

Galia will be detained at the NBI headquarters until he will be turned over to the court in Imus that issued his warrant of arrest unless he is able to pay the P80,000 bail recommended for his temporary liberty. - Fred P. Languido/BRP