MABALACAT, Pampanga – Bamban Mayor Leonardo "Ding" Anunciacion of Bamban, Tarlac reportedly entered into a lease agreement with an alleged fugitive Korean national for the use of vast lands owned by Aeta tribes at the borders of this town and Bamban.
Based on the documents obtained by Punto last week, Anunciacion signed the 25-year lease contract renewable for 50 years with Kim Hyuk, also known as Kim Ji Hoon, on July 24, 2007 in Capas, Tarlac. The lands are ancestral domain of Aetas based in Sitios Gayaman, Mataba, Mabilog, Malasa, Mainang, Sta. Rosa, Burog, San Martin and San Vicente in Bamban.
According to a National Central Bureau of the Interpol in Seoul, South Korea, Hyuk of Yangchoun Gu, Seoul is wanted for "counterfeiting valuables securities, etc."
In the report accompanying the warrant of arrest which is effective until October 22 this year, Hyuk allegedly bought three stolen Starrex vans and 71 other stolen vehicles in 2001.
In the same document, the 46-year-old Korean fugitive reportedly forged the vehicles’ registration documents without authority to be able to export them in the Philippines.
Anunciacion, in a text message sent from Korea where he was there on Friday, said "ela puedeng w/o lgu approval, right? (They could not be consummated without the approval of the Local Government Unit (LGU), right?).
The first-term mayor said "Hyuk could also be Kimchie who was with him and Tarlac Third District Rep. Jesi Lapus on Friday in Korea."
Punto asked Anunciacion to inform Hyuk (Kimchie) about the warrant of arrest issued against him and give his comments.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), in a booking sheet and arrest report, said Hyuk (also known as Kim) was arrested at 10:00 A.M. on November 23, 2005 in the country. The foreign businessman reportedly resided in Dasmarinas Village, Makati City at the time he was arrested for being an undocumented Korean National.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued a summary deportation order against Hyuk on February 10, 2008.
"That on 09 January 2006, respondent was turned over by the NBI for being an undocumented/overstaying alien and for being fugitive from justice in Korea; that respondent is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Hee Sung Parl of the Seoul District Court for Counterfeiting Valuable Securities. Hence, an undesirable alien," said the BI in the same order.
In a newspaper report from a Manila-based Tabloid in February 2008, Hyuk was able to escape while being detained at the BI detention cell in Bicutan, Metro Manila.
The Interpol, in the same news report, expressed doubt and questioned the escape of Hyuk.
