Police eye business rivalry in Korean’s slay

Police investigators are now eyeing business rivalry as the possible motive in the slaying of a 45-year-old Korean, whose body was discovered inside his parked SUV in Paco, Manila last Tuesday night.

Investigators said they received information that Korean business associates of Ku Kugjin had retrieved the victim’s portable steel vault at his residence in BF Homes, Parañaque last Tuesday morning, several hours after he had gone missing.

The vault reportedly contained cash, passports and documents relating to various business interests of the victim.

The information was furnished by two women yesterday to police investigators, as told to them by their cousin Mona Labadan, the victim’s 26-year-old Filipina wife.

According to the two women, their cousin is now being closely guarded by Korean business associates of the victim at the Loyola Funeral chapel, where the victim’s remains lie in state.

"She is not allowed to talk to anybody and is under tight watch by the Koreans," the women told police of their cousin’s predicament.

The bloated body of the Korean was found in the backseat of his gold Ford Escape (XNH-233) by a passing mobile car crew in front of a house on Gen. Luna street in Paco last Tuesday.

Residents said the vehicle had been parked in the area since Monday morning. The body bore three gunshot wounds in the chest.

The victim, who reportedly owned several businesses in the country, including a high-class resort in Anilao, Batangas, also worked as a reporter for Korean Post, a weekly South Korean newspaper.

Copies of the paper are reportedly circulated among Korean expatriates in Parañaque City.

He and his Filipina wife have a six-year-old daughter.

Investigation showed the Korean received a call early Monday and agreed to meet the unidentified caller.

Since then, the Korean failed to return home until his body was discovered inside his vehcile last Tuesday night.

Senior Inspector Dominador Arevalo, chief of the Manila Police District’s homicide section, said they will place the victim’s wife under protective custody after the burial, which is scheduled to take place today.