Korean visitors in Boracay lose cash, valuables to resort robbers
Iloilo -- Boracay the island-paradise? Not quite for the eleven Korean nationals, all foreign-exchange students who had the most harrowing in experience over the weekend. And for a reason too which now had them vow never to come back.
The group who are students of one Korean English tutorial school based in Iloilo City took a three-day vacation off Boracay starting Saturday, February 11.
For starters, the group was held up at knife-point by an irate pumpboat owner who refused to take no for an answer after they changed their plan of not going into island hopping anymore.
A stay at Alice in Wonderland resort, some 30 meters away from the Boracay Police Detachment Unit (BPDU) also turned out one in wander land with the second night lost to unknown thieves. This, as valuables, cash and personal belongings were divested of the Koreans whose two rented rooms were ransacked.
The incident as reported to The News Today recounted said ordeal, the Koreans now feeling helpless and hopeless after failing to get the full-assistance of Boracay police and resort management when the crime was discovered.
In a letter, one victim who requested anonymity said their Boracay trip was pushed after hearing so many good impressions of the island. His group arrived in the Philippines only last month.
'I heard it is very beautiful. I had lots of money because I want to enjoy, the victim began, quickly followed by, 'Boracay trip was very terrible, unlucky and irritable because I lost my important things.
He then went to narrate that among those lost to the suspects were valuables, personal belongings that included signature items and cash of at least P50,000. Another friend lost P5,000, as yet another from the group lost two digital cameras, a cell phone, Feragamo sunglases valued at least P15,000, CD players, clothes.
'From now, I can't believe in Filipinos anymore, he said as he continued to lament the mediocre police assistance, he said, they got from the Boracay police. 'Also, Filipino people are terrible (sic) slow to see what is (sic) find out what happens and blind to the whole situation. No police going around to see place is safe.
Such as he went on to state with a plea, 'I want to go back to Korea right now. When I went to other countries, I (sic) never occurred like this situation.
And this last message, 'Even though if (sic) I have chances to come back to the Philippines again, I will never come to (the) Philippine(s). Here it is dangerous and bad surroundings (sic).
The Koreans returned to Iloilo City Monday, February 13, bringing whatever was left of them-a few pieces of clothes and some cash just enough to come back to Iloilo.
Concerned about their fate, their teachers called up the resort management upon knowing about the incident to check on any development only to be answered 'it was already reported to the police.
A teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, even said of the Koreans' plight in Boracay after the incident: 'They were never assisted by the resort management. They were made to report the incident to the police only by themselves.
The News Today tried to reach the Alice in Wonderland resort management for comment but was not available at press time.
Department of Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta assured of immediate action when told of the incident.
The Koreans, for fear of their life and more trouble, asked that their identities be kept out of the public.
Trompeta said he will personally attend to the matter and make sure that justice is served to the visiting guests.