Thai national loses belongings to chatmate

SURIGAO CITY – A middle-aged Thai tourist from Phuket lost his luggage containing personal belongings, money, visa, mobile phones, Rolex watch and laptop to a Filipina acquaintance whom he met through the Internet site Friendster inside a hotel in Butuan City Wednesday evening.

The Thailand national, Sonthi Assadong went all the way from Butuan City to Barangay Luna here in Surigao City to report his ordeal to barangay officials here hoping to locate his female acquaintance who allegedly hails from Barangay Luna, Surigao City.

He said he met his 19-year old Filipina acquaintance identified only as Anna Marie, his chatmate through the internet friendster.

Sonthi said he has fallen asleep inside his room in a hotel in Butuan City when the suspect took away all his personal belongings.

The Thai proceeded to Davao City yesterday afternoon to seek help from his Thai friends in the city so that he could go back home to Thailand as soon as possible.

A foreigner and two Filipino customers checking in at the Butuan City Hotel who took pity on the ordeal Sonthi has experienced contributed money for fares and small allowance for Sonthi. – Ben Serrano