1 of 3 Koreans abducted in Cagayan de Oro dies—police

MANILA, Philippines—One of the three Koreans who were abducted in October in Cagayan de Oro and freed almost two weeks ago has died, Cagayan de Oro police chief Superintendent Gerardo Rosales said Monday.

Rosales said that while they were not sure if Choi In-Soo’s death last Friday was caused by an illness, Rosales said that Choi, following his release, underwent an operation in Iligan Cityo before he was taken to Cagayan de Oro.

“Wala kaming alam kung may sakit basta napakawalan tapos dinala sa ospital allegedly [dahil] may sakit (We don’t know if he had any illess; all we know is that he was freed and then take to the hospital because he was sick),” he said.

Choi was abducted together with compatriots Seok Bong-Wu and Kim Nam-Doo last October 21 while checking mining prospects in Lanao del Norte. He was, however, abandoned by his kidnappers in Barangay (village) Kalimudan in Salvador, Lanao del Norte, last November 24, allegedly because he was ill and very weak.

Seok and Kim were rescued by the military on November 26.

Rosales said that Choi’s body was being autopsied.