Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Korean faces rap for killer leap; laws sought to avoid accidents
A CRIMINAL case has been filed against the Korean national who killed a fellow countryman after jumping from the Kawasan Falls in Badian, Cebu and landing on the latter.
Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Napoloen Alburo, in behalf of the head of office, charged Ryu Ho Jun with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Moalboal-Badian-Alcantara-Alegria.
Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Marvin de la Peña set bail at P30,000.
According to the charge sheet, Ryu jumped “without regard and caution to avoid injury and/or damage to persons and things” below.
“Thereby, in a reckless and imprudent manner,” the charge sheet added, “(causing) the untimely death of Lim Sang Guen.”
Ryu is in police custody. Although hospitalized after the incident, he is deemed under arrest.
With the information, he can now post bail and wait for his hearing to be scheduled.
Attached to the case information is the complaint-affidavit of the Korean victim’s father, Lim Young Bal, who said Ryu “should be held criminally liable.”
“Ryu Ho Jun should likewise be made to pay actual damages I incurred as a result of the untimely death of my son in such amount as will be proven during trial,” the father said.
He also asked for a total of P125,000 in litigation costs and lawyers’ fees.
A police report signed by Insp. Rodrigo Orbigoso identified the other victims of the incident as Leon Chang Sun, 22, and Chun Seong Ah, 23.
They were on the raft together with Lim when Ryu came crashing down.
The two were taken to the Reinhardt Wirtgen Memorial Hospital in Alegria and survived. It is not known if they are filing their own suits.
Also attached was the affidavit of tour guide Jomer Ambrad who said that Ryu, who was already on top of the falls, was warned by a companion not to jump because the victims’ raft was underneath.
Ambrad said Ryu “ignored his companion’s warning, as well as several other warnings made by some onlookers, and jumped.”
As this developed, Provincial Board (PB) Member Wilfredo Caminero believes tourists should be arrested if they cannot comply with safety measures of the resorts.
He said he will meet with Badian officials to discuss the exercise of police power at resorts.
“We will start to conduct an inquiry from the Municipal Government as to what the policy is as far as lifesaving is concerned so we can review or see if we can resort to the use of police power as a preventive measure,” Caminero told reporters yesterday.
Caminero represents the second district, where Badian falls under.
PB Member Agnes Magpale, for her part, said there will be a meeting with officials from the Municipality, Barangay Matutinao and the Kawasan cooperative next week.
Magpale is the chairperson of the PB’s committee on tourism.
She, however, assured that what happened will not affect tourism in the popular resort.
Magpale and Caminero are also thinking of enacting a provincial ordinance that might solve the problem.
Caminero also lamented that barangay tanods are not very effective in the area, because some of the people do not respect them.
This is why he suggests that policemen should monitor the area especially during peak seasons like weekends or during summer. (KNR/JGA)
