Koreans face charges for not paying P54,000 bill

A Manila councilor recently filed estafa charges against four Korean nationals for allegedly failing to pay P54,000 they incurred in his bar.

Manila Fifth District Councilor Roderick Valbuena filed charges against Song Byung Hoon, 39; Choy Sy Yong, 39; Kim Syun Tae, 39; and Seo Bum Sik, 20.

The charges have been submitted to the Manila City Regional Trial Court’s criminal docket section.

Valbuena, who owns The Heart of Manila bar on Adriatico street in Malate, said that last Dec. 15, the Koreans entered his bar at 1 a.m. At around 4:30 a.m., a waiter chased after them as they were about to leave the bar and asked them to pay their bill, which amounted to P54,000.

The suspects refused to pay the bill, claiming it was too much. Tae and Sik reportedly shouted at the restaurant’s staff, pulled out dollar bills from their pockets and ripped the money. The waiter tried to pacify them, but insisted that they should pay the bill.

“I was embarrassed and humiliated in front of our staff. At this point my wife approached them and advised them to be civil in their actuation, but they ignored her and Mr. Choy Sy Yong even strongly pushed her aside,” Valbuena said.

He then asked for police assistance and had them arrested.

Apart from the estafa, he is considering filing additional charges of unjust vexation and for drunk and disorderly conduct.       – Evelyn Macairan