Locals have much to thank the Koreans for. To much extent, Koreans are changing neighboring Angeles City’s image as “Sin City” as they come to do business or study in local schools or play decent games such as golf. Although they seem largely cocooned to themselves, their businesses provide jobs to scores of locals whose skills can’t fit into this freeport.
Most of them, despite image of unfriendliness, are kind. But more locals are developing Koreano-phobia amid reports they, awash with cash, get away with wrongdoings.
Sources who asked not to be named in fear for their safety, cited recent incidents allegedly involving Koreans in this freeport.
One source said that only three weeks ago, an Aeta working in Philexcel Industrial Park was on his motorbike at about 3 p.m. when a car being driven by a Korean hit him.
“He was drunk but what’s troubling is that when he was down, the car was seen again hitting him and so he died,” the source said.
The Korean reportedly paid the victim’s family P14,000 during the wake held in Barangay Sapang Bato.
Another source said that last August, two male Koreans were seen to have parked late into the night at the Jolllibee facility near the Roxas statue along Roxas highway.
“They were observing at the parking area and then boarded their car and drove off to a vacant lot nearby. Moments later the body of a woman wearing tube blouse and shorts was seen on the lot,” said the witness.
Punto tried to get information on these from the security department of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) but got different versions of the two cases.
Personnel from the investigation section of CDC security department referred Punto to the traffic section.
CDC traffic chief Jesus Marquez confirmed the case of the woman found dead, but cited probers as saying that the victim’s husband, reportedly a security guard at Philexcel, had admitted that his wife was suffering from depression and was wont to jumping from running jeepneys.
This, even as Marquez said his office had no record of a male Aeta being run over by a vehicle being driven by a Korean.
The sources, however, insisted on the veracity of their claims. They said they knew the witnesses personally.
“The Aeta who was run over is the son-inlaw of Katus. The wake was even held in Sapang Bato, the source insisted.
Last week, a Korean businessman named Park was gunned down “gangland style” by a single assailant inside his office at the so-called Korea Town in Barangay Anunas here.
Members of the local Korean community said the murder has sent a “chilling effect” among them, even as they speculated that it was “business-related.”
Police are still pursuing angles to lead to the motive to the murder and the perpetrators.
