NBI BUSTS MAIL-ORDER BRIDE SYNDICATE
MANILA, January 18, 2005 (STAR) The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) busted an international mail-order bride syndicate with the arrest of 11 persons, including six Korean nationals in a raid in Parañaque City over the weekend.Raiders also rescued 32 would-be victims during a raid last Sunday at the Fairview Compound on Quirino Avenue, Parañaque City.
NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco identified the suspects as Ann Hak Sun, 49; Cho YoungJin, 33; Kim Jung Hun, 32; Kim Seuing Chan, 23, Oh Yeon Dong, 33, Lee Young Seung, 29, all Korean businessmen.
Wycoco said the Koreans were accompanied by Filipino partners, who were identified as Jenny Ann, 25; Cunneth Bogait, 36; Maricar Fajaron, 44; Imelda Sia 37; and Bing Manalo 27.
The NBI chief noted that the suspects would be charged with violation of Republic Act 6955, or the "Mail-Order Bride Act" and Republic Act 9208, or Trafficking in Persons Act.
In his report to Wycoco, NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTRAD) chief Romulo Asis said the group’s modus operandi was to entice Filipino women to apply for match-marriages with male Koreans.
Asis said Korean clients would come to the Philippines and choose a wife to take to Korea. However, two months after the arranged marriage, the husband abandons the wife and looks for another Filipina to marry.
"The future of several women were shattered because of the illegal activities of this group. We have to put a stop to this," Wycoco said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe
Angeles’ ‘acetylene gang’ leaders fall By Ding Cervantes and Ric Sapnu Star 01/18/2005
ANGELES CITY — Two members of the notorious "acetylene gang" were arrested here by police operatives while attempting to enter a bank at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Senior Superintendent Jimmy Restua, Angeles City police director, identified the suspects as Alexander Tao-wy, 42, of Barangay Camp 6, Tuba town; and Felix Bumugao, 40, of Barangay Bangao, Buguias town, both in Benguet.
The suspects were believed to be leaders of the same group that carted off millions worth of cash and properties from a bank and three pawnshops here in the past few weeks.
Police tagged the group "acetylene gang" because it uses acetylene torches to break into banks and pawnshops, including their cash vaults.
Restua said the suspects were about to enter the back door of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Bank branch along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Balibago when spotted by Angeles City policemen in a roving patrol car.
Police investigators said the police team was patrolling the area when the bank’s burglar alarm sounded off.
The suspects were cornered with their acetylene tank and other equipment and voluntarily surrendered to the police operatives, Restua said.
Confiscated from the suspects were two caliber .38 revolvers, dried marijuana leaves, four grams of suspected shabu, two crow bars, a bolt cutter, one small gas tank, an oxygen tank, a black blanket used to hide the flare of the acetylene torch and a getaway vehicle — a Toyota Tamaraw FX with license plate WCM-502.
Restua said the suspects had implicated one Robert Apagna, alias Roger, of Baguio City and a certain Daniel as their cohorts in the foiled robbery attempt.
A certain Jimmy Gambican, alias Cuteng, of Baguio City, also allegedly masterminded the foiled robbery, said Restua.
Police authorities filed robbery charges with illegal possession of firearms against the suspects.
Senior Superintendent Perfecto Palad, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) deputy regional director for operations (DRDO), disclosed that a total of five robbery-break-in incidents have already occurred in Central Luzon this year.
These were in Olongapo City, Mariveles, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Angat, Bulacan and in this city.
The business community in Angeles heaved a sigh of relief with news of the arrest.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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