3 South Korean men feared kidnapped in Lanao Norte

Three South Korean men have been reported missing and may have been abducted in Lanao del Norte, police officials said on Monday.

Police have launched a search for Wu Seok-bung, Kim Nam-du, In Soo-choi and at least one Filipino guide after they failed to return to their hotel in southern Cagayan de Oro city on October 21, police Senior Supt. Gerardo Rosales said.

The three traveled to Lanao del Norte reportedly to inspect a mining site and may have been abducted by unidentified gunmen. Their hotel notified the police after they failed to return after three days, Rosales told The Associated Press.

Korean Embassy officials in Manila were aware of the problem, he said.

The South Korean foreign ministry in Seoul said it cannot confirm the reported abduction.

A Philippine police official said authorities were checking reports that a kidnap gang may have snatched the three and brought them to Lanao del Sur. The official, who was helping monitor the possible abductions, spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

Army Colonel Daniel Lucero said he has alerted his troops to be on the lookout for the Koreans in Lanao.

Von Al Haq, spokesperson for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone that they have mobilized their men under the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (Ahjag) to track down the kidnappers.

Under Ahjag, MILF forces, with proper coordination with the military, can run after criminal groups in Mindanao.

“We are helping government troops in rescue efforts for the abducted foreigners. We are hopeful it will have a positive result,” Al Haq said.

In March 2008, Muslim rebels kidnapped South Korean businessman Tae Jung and his Filipino companion in Lanao del Sur. They were freed two months later after ransom was paid.

In February 2002, South Korean treasure hunter Yoon Jae-keon was kidnapped in Sarangani province but was ransomed by his family after four months.

In 1993, eight Korean engineers working on a dam project were also seized in North Cotabato. Reports from AP, Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao