PAOCC beefs up security for South Korea nationals

MANILA, Philippines — Security measures were put in place to protect South Korean nationals in the wake of crimes committed against them, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said yesterday.

Among the initiatives is the establishment of tourist security desks in police stations where there are South Korean communities.

According to PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz, most of the South Koreans are found in Manila, Parañaque and Angeles City in Pampanga.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who chairs PAOCC, held a dialogue with representatives from the Korean consulate on May 16 to address crimes targeting South Koreans, which pose potential threats to the country’s tourism and economic stability.

Cruz did not provide figures, but among the common crimes committed against South Koreans are robbery, theft, scamming and murder.

Apart from putting up tourist assistance desks, Cruz said the Philippine National Police would beef up visibility in areas where there is a large presence of South Koreans.