CIDG-7, Koreans vow to cooperate

CEBU, Philippines - The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 and the Cebu Korean Association Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday to formalize the cooperation between the police and the Korean community in Cebu.

The agreement was signed by Supt. Fermin Armendarez III, officer-in-charge of the Metro Cebu Criminal Investigation and Detection Team, Chief Insp. Rene Kyamko, Team Leader of the Cebu Province CIDT representing CIDG 7, and Bong Hwan Cho of the Cebu Korean Association.

CIDG director Benjamin Magalong witnessed the signing of the MOA.

The MOA stipulates that the Korean community shall support CIDG 7 in its fight against criminality.

In turn, CIDG 7 will provide the Korean community the necessary police assistance to ensure that their rights are not violated.

Madalong, the guest of honor, said in his speech that the MOA serves as an assurance to the Korean nationals that they are safe in Cebu and that they can always count on CIDG. Some 30,000 to 40,000 Koreans are said to be currently living in Cebu.

Magalong said he plans on creating a Korean Desk throughout the country that will facilitate the needs of the Koreans.

A team of police officers who knows how to speak the Korean language will be assigned in the Korean desks, said the CIDG director.

Some Koreans, he said, have been complaining that the police are not handling them well because they do not understand their language and allegedly think that they are arrogant.

Cho said that considering the crimes in Cebu, they coordinated with CIDG to ensure the security of the Koreans that has already formed part of the province’s population.

Magalong said that an official of the Korean Consulate has briefed him about the presence of the Korean mafia allegedly operating in the country and it is not remote that they are also present in Cebu.

Cho said the Korean mafia is active in Luzon but has not received information yet that they are now operating in Cebu. (FREEMAN)