Freed kidnapped Korean man dies in the Philippines

Choi In-So

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 5, 2011) – Philippine authorities said one of three Korean men who were kidnapped in the restive southern region of Mindanao had died due to complications brought by ulcer.

Choi In-So who was first to be freed by the kidnappers died last week in hospital, said Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

“It was sad news. Choi died from complication brought by ulcer. We condole with his family,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

Choi was freed on November 24 in the village of Calimudanin Salvadortown in Lanao del Norte. His two compatriots Wu Seok-bung and Kim Nam-du were released two days later in the same village. The kidnappers had demanded P50 million ransoms, but authorities said no money was paid for the release of the hostages.

The trio, accompanied by a Filipino guide Junie Ongue, was kidnapped on October 21 while scouting for mining opportunities in Lanao del Sur province. Ongue was found dead on a remote village called Dagayonan in Lanao del Norte’s Madamba town.

It was not immediately known why Ongue was killed by the kidnappers, but Army Colonel Daniel Lucero, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said the Filipino man was murdered even before the release of the foreigners.

Lucero tagged a notorious leader of illegal loggers, Anwar Bilao, as behind the kidnappings. The Korean embassy in Maniladid not release any statement about the freed hostages. (Mindanao Examiner)