MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police has assured the safety of Korean tourists and expatriates in the country and adopted new measures to improve cooperation with South Korean authorities on criminal cases involving Koreans either as victims or suspects.
PNP Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome made the pledge during the Joint Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Korean Ambassador Hye Min Lee recently.
At the meeting, Bartolome highlighted his commitment to addressing some concerns of the Korean Embassy regarding the security of its nationals, as well as strengthening cooperation between the embassy and the PNP.
The PNP chief vowed to instruct police agencies to inform the Korean Embassy about the approved bail of Korean detainees so that criminal background checks may be done first before they are to be released.
Bartolome also said he would instruct PNP field officers to get all pertinent information, such as birth date, passport, personal identification number, contact details and current address of Koreans under investigation, either as victims or perpetrators of crime.
Bartolome promised the Korean envoy that appropriate legal sanctions would be meted out to the PNP officers accountable for the escape of Korean fugitive Kim Sung Kon last year.
The Korean, who was arrested in Makati City for illegal possession of firearms, escaped from his detention cell on December 27. Five members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were charged criminally and administratively for his escape.
Bartolome said the PNP would exert all efforts to recapture the fugitive and to implement stricter measures to avoid similar incidents.
For his part, Ambassador Lee lauded the efforts of the PNP, as well as the military and local government in Lanao Del Norte, for the successful rescue of three Korean kidnapping victims last November.
In a simple ceremony, 21 officials and officers were given certificates of commendation for their individual contributions for the rescue of the Koreans.